Does Drinking Water Help Sexually?

Does drinking water make you last longer in bed? The short answer: It’s possible.

Is drinking water essential for sexual performance, erectile function and orgasms? Another short answer: Yes.

Water is an essential part of your overall health, regardless of what bodily function you’re performing.

Not getting enough fluids can weaken the body’s ability to function at peak performance, so it makes sense that some people wonder whether dehydration can cause ED. Luckily, drinking water is a pretty easy thing to do. We suggest grabbing some while you dig into the details about how the amount of water you consume can affect your intimacy, wellbeing and everything else.

So, what does drinking water have to do with getting an erection? Well, everything. Water is essential for proper blood flow and proper signaling between your brain and reproductive organs, and water supports libido and hormone activity essential to erections. It may not be the cure, but it’s an essential requirement for healthy erections and great sex.

When you get aroused, your brain sends a signal to the blood vessels in your penis, which increases blood flow. Your blood then rushes into the corpora cavernosa (two long chambers in the shaft), which causes an erection.

If your body isn't functioning correctly, getting an erection can become much more difficult. If you haven’t had enough water and your hydration levels are low, it may impact your bodily functions.

Water plays an essential role in erections, but it is also essential for:

• Natural lubrication and preventing vaginal dryness

• Ejaculation

• Blood volume

• Blood pressure

• Regulating body temperature

• Preventing urinary tract infections

Does drinking water help with erectile dysfunction? It can — if you’re dehydrated.

Staying hydrated by drinking water helps keep your blood and plasma volume high. You need these levels not to be too low to get an erection.

Even if you can get an erection, dehydration may cause you to experience certain symptoms that impact your sexual health and make it tough to get in the mood. These symptoms may include:

• Headaches

• Fatigue

• Low or inconsistent energy levels

• Dizziness

• Dry mouth

• Constipation

• Chills

• Crankiness

• Confusion

• Anxiousness

When you drink enough water and are fully hydrated, you don’t have to worry about these dehydration symptoms. You also won’t have to worry about dehydration-induced ED.

Proper hydration is important for reasons beyond stopping ED, and to avoid dehydration, regularly drinking water is critical. But how much do you really need?

According to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, men should aim to drink 125 ounces of water per day. This is approximately 16 eight-ounce glasses of water a day.

Consider this number as a general guideline. There are a number of factors that could alter how much water you should be drinking to avoid dehydration — and the dehydration-induced sexual dysfunction that could result.

For example, your weight can impact your daily water intake needs. Those who weigh more tend to need more water. Your metabolism, activity level, the type of climate you live in and any health conditions you have may also affect how much water you should drink.

You may also need more water on certain occasions, like if you drink alcohol, are sick or are in hot weather.

In addition to drinking plenty of water, incorporating foods that have high water content — like cucumbers, strawberries, iceberg lettuce and zucchini — is a smart move for staying hydrated.

How do you know if you’re well-hydrated? A good way to check is to look at your pee. Darker-colored urine with a strong odor is a sign that you need to be drinking more water.

Does drinking water help sexually? It could, if you’re dehydrated. ED can occur even if you’re getting plenty of fluids, however, and there are many ways to treat it.

If you are dealing with any type of sexual dysfunction, it’s always a good idea to consult with a healthcare provider. They can help you figure out the cause of your ED and develop a treatment option.

A healthcare provider may recommend trying ED medication. One of the more common ED medications is Viagra®, also sold as a generic version called sildenafil.

Sildenafil is in a class of medications called phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. These work by relaxing the smooth muscles in the blood vessels that supply the penis, so you can get adequate blood flow in that area when you are aroused.

In addition to sildenafil, there are a number of other common oral ED medications. They include tadalafil, vardenafil and avanafil.

If your ED isn’t caused by something physical (like low fluid intake), it could be a psychological issue.

Depression and anxiety are two common culprits that can affect your sex drive and function. Therapy may help you cope with the mental health issues impacting your sex drive.

If you are experiencing any type of ED — whether from not drinking enough water or something else — you should make time to speak with a medical professional.

Does drinking water help last longer in bed? Possibly, but only if you do so regularly, getting the right amount each day.

Water is essential for just about every piece of the sexual function puzzle.

• Water plays a key role in sexual activity and sexual intercourse, and if you’re seriously or chronically dehydrated, getting your required ounces every day may help with ED.

• Dehydration can lead to poor ejaculatory health and poor erectile function, and it can increase your risk of psychological factors associated with ED.

• A typical adult male should try to get about 125 ounces of water per day according to one recommendation, though health, climate, elevation and physical activity all affect a person’s needs.

Living with sexual dysfunction doesn’t have to be permanent.. It’s important to get to the bottom of what is going on so that you can go back to a pleasurable sex life.

Hims offers online consultations, which makes it easy to work with a healthcare provider to assess what your ED needs may be.