Does Vaping Cause ED? What the Research Says

Does vaping cause ED? What the evidence shows

The distinction is association versus cause. The PATH analysis found a link after adjustment for other risk factors, but a single survey wave cannot establish which came first. It cannot tell you whether vaping caused your symptoms.

Does smoking cause ED? Yes: CDC, citing the 2014 Surgeon General’s report, identifies cigarette smoking as a known cause. That conclusion should not be transferred to vaping as though the evidence were identical.

If you also use cannabis or drink alcohol, bring that history to the visit. Read our separate guides to weed and ED and ED and alcohol.

What the research says: vaping vs smoking vs quitting

The vaping figures are odds ratios, not the percentage of vapers who develop ED. The table keeps the population and limits beside each result.

Sources: PATH study; CDC; Pourmand study; Harte study. Accessed Oct 23, 2026.

How vaping and smoking can affect erections

Blood-vessel health is a plausible connection. A 2023 cardiovascular review describes nicotine’s stimulant effects on the autonomic nervous system and short-term effects of e-cigarette use on blood-vessel tone. It also discusses oxidative stress and vessel dysfunction; these mechanisms do not establish why an individual has ED.

Nicotine is not the only exposure: e-cigarettes can deliver flavorings and breakdown products from the liquid’s ingredients (Mears et al.). This evidence does not establish nicotine-free vaping as safe for erections.

Do not assume vaping explains everything. NIDDK lists vascular disease, diabetes, hormone issues and anxiety among possible ED causes. Our erectile dysfunction guide explains the wider assessment.

What each path includes

Choose support for quitting and assessment for the erection problem. These are different needs; bring both to your provider.

Sources: Smokefree.gov; NIDDK; Viagra (sildenafil) label; Cialis (tadalafil) label; FDA compounding Q&A; Mendoxa care information. Accessed Oct 23, 2026.

Before a visit, compare ED medication options. Prepare your current medicine list, when the erection problems started, and whether you vape, smoke, or use both.

How to fix ED from vaping

Start with a quit plan, then get the ED assessed. The evidence above does not establish that quitting vaping alone will resolve erection problems or how soon improvement might occur.

1. Get vaping-specific support. Use Smokefree.gov’s quit-vaping resources to plan for triggers and cravings. If you also smoke, CDC smoking-cessation resources include 1-800-QUIT-NOW and texting QUITNOW to 333888; message and data rates may apply.
2. Address other contributors. NIDDK recommends physical activity, a healthy weight and limiting alcohol as part of ED care. See can ED be reversed? for context.
3. Discuss treatment while you work on quitting. Viagra (sildenafil) label and Cialis (tadalafil) label describe prescription ED treatments whose suitability depends on health history and other medicines; neither is a treatment for nicotine dependence.

Make the visit useful: explain whether symptoms started before or after vaping, whether they are persistent or occasional, and what you have already tried.

Safety checks before ED medication

• Sildenafil and tadalafil are contraindicated with organic nitrates or riociguat (Viagra (sildenafil) label; Cialis (tadalafil) label).
• An erection lasting more than 4 hours needs immediate medical care (Viagra (sildenafil) label; Cialis (tadalafil) label).
• Stop and seek care for sudden vision loss or sudden decrease or loss of hearing (Viagra (sildenafil) label; Cialis (tadalafil) label).
• Common adverse effects include headache and flushing with sildenafil, and headache, indigestion and back pain with tadalafil (Viagra (sildenafil) label; Cialis (tadalafil) label).
• For its injectable Parkinson’s product, the APOKYN (apomorphine) label contraindicates use with 5HT3 antagonists such as ondansetron and warns about nausea and fainting.

Do not add another ED medicine to an existing treatment on your own: the Viagra (sildenafil) label and Cialis (tadalafil) label say combinations with other PDE5 inhibitors or ED therapies have not been studied and advise against such use.

If ED is the problem you want treated now

Start with an assessment of your symptoms. Share your health history, current medicines, vaping and smoking. Independent licensed providers decide whether treatment is appropriate. Prescription required. Mendoxa ED care explains the process.

Mendoxa offers a compounded tablet containing sildenafil, tadalafil and apomorphine. It is not FDA-approved. The Viagra (sildenafil) label, Cialis (tadalafil) label and APOKYN (apomorphine) label concern separate products; they do not establish the safety or effectiveness of this combination.

Read about the compounded combination ED tablet, then use the online visit to discuss suitability. Costs below apply if prescribed.

Mendoxa ED plans and prices

The Mendoxa ED tablet is a compounded rapid-dissolve tablet with sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra), tadalafil (the active ingredient in Cialis) and apomorphine (APOKYN label). It dissolves under the tongue. A licensed clinician decides if it fits you and selects the strength. Compounded medicines are not FDA-approved.

The 3-month total covers three months at the monthly tablet quantity shown.

If prescribed · Cancel anytime · Available in 49 states (not California). Prices from the Mendoxa intake at try.mendoxa.co/f/ed on Oct 23, 2026. The intake always shows the current price.

Other habits that affect erections: ED and alcohol. Blood vessels and ED: ED and blood pressure.

Nicotine without the smoke (pouches, gum, patches) is covered in can nicotine cause ED?.

FAQ

Does vaping cause ED?

Daily vaping was associated with ED in the PATH survey. The study cannot prove causation or diagnose the reason for your erection problems.

Can smoking cigarettes cause ED?

Yes. CDC, citing the Surgeon General’s report, identifies cigarette smoking as a known cause of ED. This is stronger evidence than the vaping association.

Does quitting vaping help ED?

It may help, but the cigarette-cessation studies above cannot establish the benefit of quitting vaping. NIDDK supports quitting cigarettes as part of ED care; discuss vaping and persistent symptoms with a clinician.

How long after quitting vaping do erections improve?

These sources do not establish a vaping recovery timeline. The Pourmand study followed cigarette smokers, so its findings cannot promise when your erections will improve. Seek assessment rather than choosing a waiting period from smoking studies.

Does nicotine-free vaping affect erections?

There is no established erection-safety conclusion here for nicotine-free vaping. The Mears review describes non-nicotine aerosol constituents and vascular concerns, but does not measure your individual ED risk.

Can I take Viagra or Cialis if I vape?

A prescriber needs to assess your health and medicines. Both the Viagra (sildenafil) label and Cialis (tadalafil) label prohibit use with nitrates or riociguat and caution against use when sexual activity is inadvisable for cardiovascular reasons. Tell your provider about vaping and smoking.

References

1. DailyMed: VIAGRA (sildenafil citrate) tablet, film coated, label revised 12/2017. Accessed Oct 23, 2026.
2. DailyMed: CIALIS (tadalafil) tablet, film coated, label revised 3/2026. Accessed Oct 23, 2026.
3. DailyMed: APOKYN (apomorphine hydrochloride) injection, label revised 6/2022. Accessed Oct 23, 2026.
4. FDA (Drugs@FDA): VIAGRA (sildenafil) prescribing information, NDA 020895. Accessed Oct 23, 2026.
5. FDA (Drugs@FDA): CIALIS (tadalafil) prescribing information, NDA 021368. Accessed Oct 23, 2026.
6. FDA: Compounding and the FDA, questions and answers. Accessed Oct 23, 2026.
7. El-Shahawy O, et al. Association of E-Cigarettes With Erectile Dysfunction: The PATH Study. Am J Prev Med. 2022;62(1):26-38. PMID 34922653. Accessed Oct 23, 2026.
8. Mears MJ, et al. Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems and Cardiovascular/Cardiometabolic Health. Circ Res. 2023;132(9):1168-1180. PMID 37104558. Accessed Oct 23, 2026.
9. Pourmand G, et al. Do cigarette smokers with erectile dysfunction benefit from stopping? BJU Int. 2004;94(9):1310-3. PMID 15610111. Accessed Oct 23, 2026.
10. Harte CB, Meston CM. Association between smoking cessation and sexual health in men. BJU Int. 2012;109(6):888-96. PMID 21883852. Accessed Oct 23, 2026.
11. CDC (archived): Diseases and Death fact sheet, citing the 2014 Surgeon General’s report. Accessed Oct 23, 2026.
12. CDC: About E-Cigarettes. Accessed Oct 23, 2026.
13. CDC Tips From Former Smokers: quit resources. Accessed Oct 23, 2026.
14. Smokefree.gov. Accessed Oct 23, 2026.
15. NIDDK: symptoms and causes of ED. Accessed Oct 23, 2026.
16. NIDDK: treatment for ED. Accessed Oct 23, 2026.
17. Smokefree.gov: Quit Vaping. Accessed Oct 23, 2026.
18. Mears et al.: full-text cardiovascular review (PMC10154046). Accessed Oct 23, 2026.
19. Mendoxa ED care (product, format, max 1 dose per 24 hours). Accessed Oct 23, 2026.
20. Mendoxa ED intake: plan prices (term_options). Accessed Oct 23, 2026.

Related guides

• Weed and ED
• ED and alcohol
• Can ED be reversed?
• Erectile dysfunction treatment
• ED medications compared
• ED and blood pressure
• Performance anxiety and ED
• Sildenafil vs tadalafil
• Sildenafil + tadalafil in one tablet

Explore Mendoxa ED care

Compounded medication prescribed only if a licensed U.S. clinician decides it is appropriate. Not FDA-approved as a finished product. Not available in California. This site is not for emergencies. Call 911 if you need urgent care.