Published on: 3/5/2025
Many studies show that some improvement in erectile dysfunction can begin within a few weeks of quitting smoking, with greater benefits appearing over several months.
When you quit smoking, your body starts to heal, and improvements in erectile function can occur fairly quickly. Some research suggests that noticeable changes in the quality of your erections can begin as early as a few weeks after you stop smoking. This is because quitting smoking helps your blood vessels recover, which improves blood flow to the penis—an important factor for achieving and maintaining an erection. Over the next few months, continued abstinence from smoking allows your blood vessels and overall circulation to improve even more, which can lead to further improvements in erectile dysfunction. However, the rate and extent of recovery can vary from person to person. Factors such as how long and how much you smoked, your overall health, and whether you adopt other healthy habits like exercising and eating well can all influence the improvement timeline. If you are quitting smoking and concerned about erectile dysfunction, consider talking with your healthcare provider. They can offer guidance on how to best support your recovery and overall health, making sure you get the most benefit from your healthy lifestyle changes.
(References)
Guay AT, Perez JB, Heatley GJ. Cessation of smoking rapidly decreases erectile dysfunction. Endocr Pract. 1998 Jan-Feb;4(1):23-6. doi: 10.4158/EP.4.1.23. PMID: 15251760.
Pourmand G, Alidaee MR, Rasuli S, Maleki A, Mehrsai A. Do cigarette smokers with erectile dysfunction benefit from stopping?: a prospective study. BJU Int. 2004 Dec;94(9):1310-3. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2004.05162.x. PMID: 15610111.
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