摘要：Summary (Effects of drugs abuse on the sexual response). - Drugs of abuse, like alcohol, opiates,
cocaine and cannabis, are used by many young people for their presumed aphrodisiac properties. It is well
known, instead, that, apart from the subjective effects, they negatively affect the sexual response. Alcohol has
direct toxic effects on the gonads (testes and ovaries) and the liver (it increases the catabolism of testosterone
and its transformation in estrogens). Besides, it inhibits the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonads axis (HPG). The
opioids inhibit the HPG axis and increase the prolactin levels which, in turn, interferes with the male and
female sexual response. The acute effects of cocaine are stimulants mainly for its dopaminergic properties
but in the long run it causes sexual dysfunctions (erectile, etc.) mainly due to hyperprolactinemia. Cannabis,
at high doses, could inhibit the HPG axis and reduce fertility. The knowledge of these effects should be better
disseminated among subjects at risk for deterrent purposes.
关键词：Key words: sexual dysfunctions, drugs of abuse, alcohol, opioids, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines.
