Most research on the links between alcohol use and sexual behavior has used cross-sectional and between-subjects designs. However, a pivotal question is whether sexual behavior is more likely when the same persons drink more heavily than when they do not. A within-person approach was used in the current study to model the links between alcohol use and sex. Participants

From the Bible to pop music, the implication that alcohol works like some sort of love potion has been around for ages. But does alcohol actually have an aphrodisiac effect? Is there such a thing as beer goggles? Will drinking make your orgasms better, or just leave you too sloshed to orgasm at all? Drinking alcohol increases testosterone levels in females. This male sex hormone plays a role in sexual desire. It may be a factor in females reporting more sexual desire when drinking.

Despite public perceptions that alcohol consumption enhances sexual experiences and indicates sexual permissiveness, there is no simple correlation between alcohol consumption and sexual behavior in women. It has been shown, however, that alcohol negatively affects female sexuality, leading to sexual dysfunction and sexual victimization of women. Studies of associations between alcohol use and female sexuality have been far less abundant than similar studies in men for general reviews, see Carpenter and Armenti ; Crowe and George ; Wilsnack ; and Wilson Researchers now recognize that findings about male sexuality and drinking do not necessarily apply to women.

A couple of glasses of wine might help ease inhibitions between the sheets, but sex and booze are a potent cocktail that can quickly lose its sparkle. We ask the experts about the health consequences of mixing alcohol with sex. Although a couple of drinks can set the mood for a sexual encounter, alcohol isn't actually an aphrodisiac. It's a depressant and acts on the part of the brain that reduces inhibitions, making us feel more relaxed, and socially and sexually confident, which may increase our desire for sex. These relaxed feelings of sociability and well-being may be helpful in overcoming sexual inhibitions and studies have shown that, consumed in moderation, alcohol can help some women feel aroused and reach orgasm more easily.