You said you accidentally had sexual intercourse while drunk? Don't lie~

Some men, after engaging in sexual activity, might claim they were too drunk to remember or to be held responsible. This has led to a counterargument: since men typically can't get an erection when drunk, the fact that they managed to have sex proves they weren't really drunk at all! Whether men are capable of sexual activity after drinking is a question that involves both scientific evidence and matters of personal integrity.



**Science vs. Integrity**



In a review on alcohol and human sexual behavior, psychologists Leif C. Crowe and William H. George from the State University of New York compiled a lot of relevant data. Some studies indicate that heavy drinkers experience fewer and weaker erections, and they take longer to get an erection. This is consistent with the medical consensus that heavy drinking can lead to erectile dysfunction.



What about men who aren't chronic drinkers but have just had one too many? Back in 1976, G. Farkas and R. Rosen published research on this topic. They measured the circumference of the penis and found that men with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.025 had a slightly enhanced sexual response. To put it in perspective, a BAC of 0.025 is usually achieved after just a few drinks, and the person's behavior is still normal—they're not drunk. However, when BAC exceeds 0.05, men's sexual response plummets. At this point, they tend to become talkative and lose focus.



In 1979, V. Malatesta, R. Pollack, and others studied the ejaculation patterns of volunteers who masturbated after drinking. They found that when BAC reached 0.06, the time it took for volunteers to ejaculate significantly increased. When BAC hit 0.09, many volunteers couldn't ejaculate at all. (At a BAC of 0.09, people become quite numb and are on the verge of being belligerently drunk.) But regardless of ejaculation issues, researchers discovered that alcohol had no significant impact on erections—meaning men still had the potential to engage in sexual activity.



In 2008, a study from the University of Washington also tried to clarify the impact of alcohol on male erections. Using penile plethysmography, researchers studied the reactions of 78 heterosexual men to pornographic films under two conditions: sober and with a BAC of 0.08. They "regrettably" concluded that, on average, there was no significant difference in erection status between drunk and sober men.



So, can men really engage in sexual activity after drinking? From the perspective of erectile function, men do have the capability to "get the job done" after drinking. Whether they take responsibility afterward, genuinely can't remember, or are just pretending not to remember—that's a matter of integrity.



**The Impact of Alcohol on Sexual Performance**



Even though alcohol doesn't seem to affect male erections, it can still lead to subpar performance in bed. Studies show that alcohol can anesthetize the cells in the genital tissues of both men and women, making it harder for both to reach orgasm after drinking.



As mentioned earlier, psychologist William H. George, after moving to the University of Washington, collaborated with K. C. Davis and others on a study. The results indicated that women find it more difficult to become sexually aroused after heavy drinking. For men, as previously stated, drinking to a certain extent may prevent ejaculation. Don't assume this prolongs intercourse—it's definitely not a pleasant experience.



Moreover, alcohol can dull the mind and make movements clumsy, which can be significant barriers to a passionate moment.



**Alcohol and Fertility**



Alcohol can also have a significant impact on fertility. This is because alcohol affects liver function, which in turn leads to increased estrogen levels. For men, this can impact sperm development. Additionally, alcohol can damage the sperm-producing cells in the testes, leading to a decrease in sperm count. As a result, men who drink regularly often have lower sperm counts and poorer sperm motility.



For women, drinking can lead to irregular menstrual cycles and ovulation dysfunction, both of which can affect conception. Therefore, doctors typically advise couples who are trying to conceive to abstain from alcohol.



In summary, while moderate drinking can indeed be beneficial to health and can set a good mood beforehand, if you end up drunk, it's best to just call it a night and get some rest.