Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T23:29:33.181Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Subjective effects of MDMA (‘Ecstasy’) on human sexual function

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

Z. Zemishlany ,
D. Aizenberg  and
A. Weizman
D. Aizenberg
Affiliation:
Geha Psychiatric Hospital, Petah Tikva and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, P.O. Box 102, Petah Tikva49100, Israel
A. Weizman
Affiliation:
Geha Psychiatric Hospital, Petah Tikva and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, P.O. Box 102, Petah Tikva49100, Israel
Get access

Abstract

Sexual function following 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, or ‘Ecstasy’) consumption was subjectively evaluated in 35 healthy recreational users (20 men and 15 women, aged 21–48 years) with regard to four major domains of sexual activity: desire, erection (lubrication in women), orgasm and satisfaction. Desire and satisfaction were moderately to profoundly increased by MDMA in more than 90% of subjects. Orgasm was delayed but perceived as more intense. Erection was impaired in 40% of the men. It seems that MDMA impairs sexual performance, in spite of enhancement of sexual desire and the perception of greater satisfaction.

Keywords

dopamineecstasyMDMAserotoninsexual dysfunction
Type
Short communication
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 16 , Issue 2 , March 2001 , pp. 127 - 130
Copyright
Copyright © Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Argiolas, A, Melis, MR.Neuromodulation of penile erection: an overview of the role of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. Prog Neurobiol 1995; 47: 235–255.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bowers, MB Jr, Morton, JB.Regional brain catecholamines and metabolites following THC, PCP and MK-801. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 1994; 18: 961–964.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Buffum, J, Moser, C.MDMA and human sexual function. J Psychoactive Drugs 1986; 18: 355–359.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cohen, RS.Subjective reports on the effects of the MDMA (“Ecstasy”) experience in humans. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 1995; 19: 1137–1145.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cohen, RS.The love drug: marching to the beat of ecstasy. Binghampton, NY: The Haworth Medical Press; 1998.Google Scholar
Kaplan, HS.The sexual desire disorder: dysfunctional regulation of sexual motivation. New York: Brunner/Mazel; 1995.Google Scholar
Koch, S, Galloway, MP.MDMA induced dopamine release in vivo: role of endogenous serotonin. J Neural Transm 1997; 104: 135–146.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Malatesta, V, Pollack, R, Crotty, T, Peacock, L.Acute alcohol intoxication and female orgasmic response. J Sex Res 1982; 18: 1–17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pfaus, JG, Everitt, BJ.The psychopharmacology of sexual behavior. In: Bloom, FE, Kupfer, DJ Eds. Psychopharmacology: the fourth generation of progress, New York: Raven Press; 1995. 743–758.Google Scholar
Randall, T.Ecstasy-fueled “rave” parties become dances of death for English youths. JAMA 1992; 268: 1505–1506.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rosen, RS, Lane, RM, Menza, M.Effects of SSRIs on sexual function: a critical review. J Clin Psychopharmacol 1999; 19: 67–85.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schiavi, RC, Segraves, RT.The biology of sexual function. Psychiatr Clin North Am 1995; 18: 7–23.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Segraves, RT.Antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. J Clin Psychiatry 1998; 59(Suppl 4): 48–54.Google ScholarPubMed
Shankaran, M, Gudelsky, GA.Effect of 3,4 - methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on hippocampal dopamine and serotonin. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 1998; 61: 361–366.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Steele, TD, McCann, UD.Ricaurte GA. 3,4 - methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “Ecstasy”): pharmacology and toxicology in animals and humans. Addiction 1994; 89: 539–551.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Valevski, A, Modai, I, Zbarski, E, Zemishlany, Z, Weizman, A.Effects of amantadine on sexual function in neuroleptic-treated male schizophrenic patients. Clin Neuropharmacol 1998; 21: 355–357.Google ScholarPubMed
Wilson, GT, Lawson, DM.The effects of alcohol on sexual arousal in women. J Abnorm Psychol 1976; 85: 489–497.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wolff, K, Hay, AWM, Sherlock, K, Conner, M.Contents of “ecstasy”. [letter] Lancet 1995; 346: 1100–1101.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.