We all recognize the numerous health benefits of quitting vaping - but did you realize it might also enhance your sex life?

In October of last year, scientists estimated that a million adults began vaping, despite never being regular smokers, as reported by the BBC.

This surge is primarily driven by young people, with one in every seven 18-24-year-olds who never smoked regularly now turning to e-cigarettes.

The UK government responded to this in June by banning the sale and supply of single-use vaping devices across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

However, with reusable vapes still on the market, quitting remains a significant challenge as nicotine is a highly addictive substance that elevates dopamine levels in your brain.

So, perhaps this NSFW reason will provide the crucial motivation needed to kick the habit for good.

A number of scientific studies have claimed that vaping can affect your sex life (Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)

Research has shown that nicotine and vaping might be causing problems in the bedroom by negatively impacting your sex drive and leading to low libido.

A small 2020 study found that sexual dysfunctions related to sex drive, erection, arousal, and orgasm are linked with nicotine dependence.

Furthermore, another 2017 research paper revealed that quitting smoking may be advantageous if you're having issues with libido.

There is also increasing scientific evidence suggesting that nicotine may be associated with erectile dysfunction in men.

Erectile dysfunction occurs when men are unable to get an erection or maintain one long enough for sex - it's quite common in the UK, affecting about one in 10 men.

A New York study highlighted the startling fact that vaping doubles the risk of ED in men aged 20 and older, and a study of 13,700 men found that daily e-cigarette users were more than twice as likely to experience the condition compared to those who had never vaped.

It's crucial to recognize that it's not only men affected, as another 2013 study revealed that over 34% of women with substance use disorders experienced sexual dysfunction.

Erectile dysfunction is thought to affect about one in 10 men in the UK (Getty Stock Image)

Those who particularly struggled with nicotine dependence faced a risk of sexual dysfunction almost three times higher, as reported by Healthline.

But what's the science behind all of this?

Regarding ED, when nicotine enters the body, it stimulates the central nervous system to release the hormone adrenaline - a chemical response typically associated with stress or danger, explains University Hospitals.

This adrenaline release then triggers changes in the body’s cardiovascular system, causing an increased heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate.

Nicotine also has a 'vaso-constrictive effect,' meaning it constricts and tightens blood vessels, subsequently reducing the amount of blood that can flow through them - do you see where we're heading with this?

Achieving and maintaining an erection depends on a strong, steady blood flow, which is hindered by the nicotine in your system.

So, if you're facing difficulties in the bedroom, it might be time to ditch the vapes once and for all!