Catch-22
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2001
- Messages
- 4,519
XIX. All sexual questions
A. What is sex like on MDMA?
Users often find the physical sensations greatly intensified, especially the kissing and caressing. Most males have difficulty achieving erection, and nearly everyone has a hard time reaching orgasm.
B. What about MDMA and periods?
Read Amphetamines and the Menstrual Cycle – written by fairnymph.
Basically, the time of the month can affect both how high you get and how much damage you can do to yourself. Also, amphetamines can affect the timing of your cycle. If this is a topic of interest for you, please read fairnymph’s FAQ.
C. Why can't I get an erection (or orgasm)?
Excessive serotonin has been linked to erectile dysfunction. This is why people on SSRIs frequently experience trouble with erection/lubrication/orgasm. MDMA has also been implicated in vascular constriction (less blood flow), particularly to the surface of the body – this could also contribute to sexual dysfunction.
Vascular Constriction
D. Does MDMA makes you gay?
No. For many users, the normal sense of "personal space" and boundaries disappears. MDMA is a very tactile drug, and human touch feels especially good. Combined with the "loved-up" feeling, it may cause a user to become more "touchy-feely" than they usually would be. The user may hug, kiss, or give and receive massages from a member of the same sex. This has nothing to do with sexuality, and everything to do with feeling good.
There are two reasons why this myth may have started. Firstly, MDMA was first used widely in the gay club scene in the United States, back in the early 1980s. It’s possible that the drug gained a reputation as a ‘gay drug’ from this. Secondly, taking MDMA makes people more open about their emotions and more tactile (enjoying touching others). Some men might be unfamiliar with these emotions or uncomfortable with the feelings of love they experience towards their male friends. This isn’t the same as homosexuality. There’s no evidence at all that taking MDMA can change your sexuality. However, some people who were in denial about feelings of attraction to the same sex might find those feelings brought out while under the influence of the drug.
Related Myths
1. Taking MDMA shrinks your penis or breasts.
Status: Untrue
There's no evidence for this. (Although MDMA and other amphetamines may cause temporary shrinking of the penis, this isn't permanent.)
2. Don’t have sex while you’re rolling, you’ll never enjoy normal sex again.
Status: Myth
Supposedly sex on MDMA is so good that normal sex can never compare. This is false. Many people don’t particularly like sex while on MDMA. Many men find it hard to achieve an erection, and almost everyone has difficulty (or inability) reaching orgasm. Sex for them is much better while sober. Even those who do enjoy the sex do not report feeling dissatisfied with sober sex.
3. MDMA makes you want to have sex with everyone.
Status: Myth
MDMA has been called the ‘love drug’, which has led some people to believe that it is all about sex. It isn’t – it’s called the love drug because it makes you experience strong feelings of love for those around you. It’s love in the emotional sense, not the sexual one. Many people don’t feel any hornier while on MDMA, and many men have trouble getting erections or reaching orgasm.
4. Ecstasy makes you more prone to AIDS.
Status: Untrue
Source: Irish TV ads
There’s no evidence that MDMA makes you more prone to catching HIV/developing AIDS. However, use of Ecstasy has been shown to be correlated with risk-taking behaviours. These include engaging in unsafe sex, which would increase the risk of catching HIV. Of course, there is no suggestion that taking Ecstasy makes you more likely to have unsafe sex – it seems more likely that those who choose to take risks in one area (such as taking drugs) are more likely to take risks in another (such as having unsafe sex). Please, be careful out there.
Relevant studies include:
Dughiero G, Schifano F, Forza G. Personality dimensions and psychopathological profiles of Ecstasy users. Human Psychopharmacology 2001 Dec;16 ( 8) : p.635-639
The Ecstasy consumer group subjects showed higher novelty seeking scores than the controls, and Ecstasy experimenters showed lower harm avoidance scores than the abusers.
Klitzman RL, Greenberg JD, Pollack LM, Dolezal C. MDMA ('ecstasy') use, and its association with high risk behaviors, mental health, and other factors among gay/bisexual men in New York City. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 2002 Apr 1; 66(2) p.115-25
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11906799&dopt=Abstract
A study of risk behaviours among gay men who use MDMA in New York.
MDMA users were found to be younger, less educated, to have had more male partners, more one night stands with men, more visits to bars or clubs and sex clubs or bathhouses, to have unprotected anal sex with a male, to be likely to have been the victim of physical domestic violence.
Mattison AM, Ross MW, Wolfson T, Franklin D; San Diego HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center Group. Circuit party attendance, club drug use, and unsafe sex in gay men. Journal of Substance Abuse 2001;13(1-2): p. 119-26
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11547613&dopt=Abstract
Study of gay men attending circuit parties, comparing regular drug users with non-users, and seeing which ones were more likely to engage in unsafe sex. Frequent (rather than occasional) use of Ecstasy, Special K, and poppers had an association with unsafe sex at parties.
Mansergh G, Colfax GN, Marks G, Rader M, Guzman R, Buchbinder S. The Circuit Party Men's Health Survey: findings and implications for gay and bisexual men. American Journal of Public Health 2001 Jun; 91(6): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11392940&dopt=Abstract
An association was found between use of drugs and sexual risk behavior.
Waldo CR, McFarland W, Katz MH, MacKellar D, Valleroy LA.
Very young gay and bisexual men are at risk for HIV infection: the San Francisco Bay Area Young Men's Survey II. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome 2000 Jun 1;24(2):168-74
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10935693&dopt=Abstract
Studied the risk of HIV infection among very young gay and bisexual men (aged 15-17 years) and their older counterparts (aged 18-22 years). In both age groups, use of amphetamines, ecstasy, and amyl nitrate was associated with unprotected anal intercourse.
Klitzman RL, Pope HG Jr, Hudson JI. MDMA ("Ecstasy") abuse and high-risk sexual behaviors among 169 gay and bisexual men. American Journal of Psychiatry 2000 Jul;157(7):1162-4 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10873928&dopt=Abstract
MDMA use was strongly and significantly associated with a history of recent unprotected anal intercourse.
A. What is sex like on MDMA?
Users often find the physical sensations greatly intensified, especially the kissing and caressing. Most males have difficulty achieving erection, and nearly everyone has a hard time reaching orgasm.
B. What about MDMA and periods?
Read Amphetamines and the Menstrual Cycle – written by fairnymph.
Basically, the time of the month can affect both how high you get and how much damage you can do to yourself. Also, amphetamines can affect the timing of your cycle. If this is a topic of interest for you, please read fairnymph’s FAQ.
C. Why can't I get an erection (or orgasm)?
Excessive serotonin has been linked to erectile dysfunction. This is why people on SSRIs frequently experience trouble with erection/lubrication/orgasm. MDMA has also been implicated in vascular constriction (less blood flow), particularly to the surface of the body – this could also contribute to sexual dysfunction.
Vascular Constriction
D. Does MDMA makes you gay?
No. For many users, the normal sense of "personal space" and boundaries disappears. MDMA is a very tactile drug, and human touch feels especially good. Combined with the "loved-up" feeling, it may cause a user to become more "touchy-feely" than they usually would be. The user may hug, kiss, or give and receive massages from a member of the same sex. This has nothing to do with sexuality, and everything to do with feeling good.
There are two reasons why this myth may have started. Firstly, MDMA was first used widely in the gay club scene in the United States, back in the early 1980s. It’s possible that the drug gained a reputation as a ‘gay drug’ from this. Secondly, taking MDMA makes people more open about their emotions and more tactile (enjoying touching others). Some men might be unfamiliar with these emotions or uncomfortable with the feelings of love they experience towards their male friends. This isn’t the same as homosexuality. There’s no evidence at all that taking MDMA can change your sexuality. However, some people who were in denial about feelings of attraction to the same sex might find those feelings brought out while under the influence of the drug.
Related Myths
1. Taking MDMA shrinks your penis or breasts.
Status: Untrue
There's no evidence for this. (Although MDMA and other amphetamines may cause temporary shrinking of the penis, this isn't permanent.)
2. Don’t have sex while you’re rolling, you’ll never enjoy normal sex again.
Status: Myth
Supposedly sex on MDMA is so good that normal sex can never compare. This is false. Many people don’t particularly like sex while on MDMA. Many men find it hard to achieve an erection, and almost everyone has difficulty (or inability) reaching orgasm. Sex for them is much better while sober. Even those who do enjoy the sex do not report feeling dissatisfied with sober sex.
3. MDMA makes you want to have sex with everyone.
Status: Myth
MDMA has been called the ‘love drug’, which has led some people to believe that it is all about sex. It isn’t – it’s called the love drug because it makes you experience strong feelings of love for those around you. It’s love in the emotional sense, not the sexual one. Many people don’t feel any hornier while on MDMA, and many men have trouble getting erections or reaching orgasm.
4. Ecstasy makes you more prone to AIDS.
Status: Untrue
Source: Irish TV ads
There’s no evidence that MDMA makes you more prone to catching HIV/developing AIDS. However, use of Ecstasy has been shown to be correlated with risk-taking behaviours. These include engaging in unsafe sex, which would increase the risk of catching HIV. Of course, there is no suggestion that taking Ecstasy makes you more likely to have unsafe sex – it seems more likely that those who choose to take risks in one area (such as taking drugs) are more likely to take risks in another (such as having unsafe sex). Please, be careful out there.
Relevant studies include:
Dughiero G, Schifano F, Forza G. Personality dimensions and psychopathological profiles of Ecstasy users. Human Psychopharmacology 2001 Dec;16 ( 8) : p.635-639
The Ecstasy consumer group subjects showed higher novelty seeking scores than the controls, and Ecstasy experimenters showed lower harm avoidance scores than the abusers.
Klitzman RL, Greenberg JD, Pollack LM, Dolezal C. MDMA ('ecstasy') use, and its association with high risk behaviors, mental health, and other factors among gay/bisexual men in New York City. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 2002 Apr 1; 66(2) p.115-25
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11906799&dopt=Abstract
A study of risk behaviours among gay men who use MDMA in New York.
MDMA users were found to be younger, less educated, to have had more male partners, more one night stands with men, more visits to bars or clubs and sex clubs or bathhouses, to have unprotected anal sex with a male, to be likely to have been the victim of physical domestic violence.
Mattison AM, Ross MW, Wolfson T, Franklin D; San Diego HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center Group. Circuit party attendance, club drug use, and unsafe sex in gay men. Journal of Substance Abuse 2001;13(1-2): p. 119-26
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11547613&dopt=Abstract
Study of gay men attending circuit parties, comparing regular drug users with non-users, and seeing which ones were more likely to engage in unsafe sex. Frequent (rather than occasional) use of Ecstasy, Special K, and poppers had an association with unsafe sex at parties.
Mansergh G, Colfax GN, Marks G, Rader M, Guzman R, Buchbinder S. The Circuit Party Men's Health Survey: findings and implications for gay and bisexual men. American Journal of Public Health 2001 Jun; 91(6): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11392940&dopt=Abstract
An association was found between use of drugs and sexual risk behavior.
Waldo CR, McFarland W, Katz MH, MacKellar D, Valleroy LA.
Very young gay and bisexual men are at risk for HIV infection: the San Francisco Bay Area Young Men's Survey II. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome 2000 Jun 1;24(2):168-74
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10935693&dopt=Abstract
Studied the risk of HIV infection among very young gay and bisexual men (aged 15-17 years) and their older counterparts (aged 18-22 years). In both age groups, use of amphetamines, ecstasy, and amyl nitrate was associated with unprotected anal intercourse.
Klitzman RL, Pope HG Jr, Hudson JI. MDMA ("Ecstasy") abuse and high-risk sexual behaviors among 169 gay and bisexual men. American Journal of Psychiatry 2000 Jul;157(7):1162-4 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10873928&dopt=Abstract
MDMA use was strongly and significantly associated with a history of recent unprotected anal intercourse.
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