Can Cannabis Make Sex Better? Here’s What The Science Says

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Introduction

Today’s conversation is going to cover two taboo topics that I’m really excited about; cannabis, and sex, so get ready because this is going to be juicy. Growing up I never had anybody to talk about sex with. I didn’t get sex education other than school (which we all know isn’t great) and on top of that, having Asian parents, sex was never a topic of conversation.

I’ve been using cannabis for a decade, but only in the past two years have I started using it intentionally for sexual purposes. If you’re in a similar boat or if you’re simply interested in learning about how the two can relate then you’re in the right place because this post will be a candid conversation all about sex and cannabis. We’ll talk about some of the science behind these two topics, how it may be beneficial for female pain relief and orgasms, possible benefits for sexual function in men, and then I’ll also talk about some products and doses you can start with if you’d like to start incorporating cannabis into your sex life.

Of course, the plant is not for everyone, and we all have different DNA so what works for me may not work for you, but if you’re someone who has struggled with sex anxiety or performance-related issues before, keep reading to learn how the plant might be beneficial to you in this area. I also want to add a brief disclaimer here that I’m only talking about safe and consensual sex in this blog post. If you do decide to add cannabis into your sex life, I’d recommend always communicating that to your partner to make sure you’re on the same page.

What the Science Says About Sex & Weed

So what does science say about sex and the plant? For starters, there are multiple factors that affect someone’s sex drive and sexual function, and cannabis is definitely not going to be a cure, but there are some studies that have shown that it might be a helpful tool for those with sex anxiety, a low libido or performance related issues. All humans have an Endocannabinoid system in our bodies (also known as the ECS). The ECS interacts with compounds like THC and CBD by binding to our CB1 and CB2 receptors when we smoke cannabis, when we eat cannabis, and all the other different methods. The ECS actually regulates a lot of our bodily functions, including memory processing, immune responses, temperature control and more, and it's the interaction between the cannabis we consume and our ECS which makes us feel the effects of the plant.

A 2019 survey found that of 216 people who use cannabis for sex, 59% of them felt that cannabis increased their desire for sex, 74% of people reported sexual satisfaction, and 69% of people said that they could relax more thus enhancing their sexual experience. Another recent study with 811 participants examined the effect of cannabis on sexual pleasure, and 65% of those participants reported enhanced pleasure during masturbation while 71% said it heightened their touch.

When I bring up studies and the science around cannabis I also want to air out my biases and be clear about the other side of studies. In that first survey I mentioned, some participants found that cannabis interfered by making them sleepy and less focused or had no effect on their sexual experience. On top of this, Most of the studies I’ve read find that low doses can help facilitate, but high doses can inhibit sexual function/desire/satisfaction so when it comes down to it, it can be very individual and dependent on the person as well as the dosage being consumed.

Cannabis for Female Pain Relief and Orgasms

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For all of my friends out there who have experienced chronic pelvic pain, PCOS or endometriosis, there’s a great paper from Ohio University that presents cannabis (specifically CBD) as a treatment for women with such issues. It’s commonly known that CBD can have pain relieving effects when consumed, so for chronic pelvic pain sufferers who are often instructed to take ibuprofen or some other form of anti-inflammatory medication, CBD can be a natural alternative with far fewer side effects.

Now let's talk about the good stuff, cannabis and orgasms. Did you know that up to 41 percent of women worldwide suffer from female orgasm disorder? The percentage of women suffering from this disorder hasn't changed in the last 50 years! So almost half of the female population is suffering from orgasm disorder. This article that I came across from The Journal of Sexual Medicine is so good, because the researchers present a couple theories as to why they think cannabis could be a potential solution for this disorder. And to be honest, I back these theories because I relate to them 100%. This research on disorders like FOD suggests four theories regarding THC’s dishabituating effect, neuroplasticity, multimodal treatment, and the role of the amygdala in fear and anxiety responses, and they shed light on how cannabis could help women overcome challenges in sexual intimacy and achieve better orgasms.

Here’s a brief breakdown of these four theories:

The Dishabituation Theory

• This theory asserts that THC causes a dishabituating effect, and information processed of higher brain structures under the influence of THC reduces the routine represented by habits.
• Oftentimes women become distracted during sex and they feel as though they’re not able to shut their brains off and focus on the present moment of having sex and possibly orgasming. Know the feeling?
• This theory suggests that women who consume cannabis prior to having sex might have a greater chance of successfully orgasming as the cannabis may facilitate a calming and grounding effect that may keep the brain from becoming distracted.

Neuroplasticity Theory

• This theory basically says that it may explain why some women learn to orgasm while using cannabis before sex, and then once they learn how to orgasm, they find that they no longer require cannabis.

The Multimodal Treatment Theory

• The theoretical rationale for the multi-modal treatment theory is that this theory may explain why women who use cannabis for any reason may decrease their FOD
• Even if you’re consuming recreationally just to unwind at the end of the night, you might actually be helping treat your FOD or other chronic pain disorders.

The Amygdala Reduction Theory

• This theory proposes that cannabis can reduce the activity in the amygdala, a part of the brain associated with fear responses to threats, hypervigilance, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
• These are all responses of the amygdala and they commonly impair sexual response so consuming cannabis before sex may help reduce the activity found within the amygdala part of the brain.

Cannabis for Sexual Function in Men

I know I’ve been talking a lot about cannabis and sex through a woman's perspective, so let me share a couple of studies that I found specifically about men. There was a survey I found that looked at erectile dysfunction in men and essentially there is a standardized way of measuring erectile dysfunction, which is called IIEF (International Index of Erectile Dysfunction) which is a multi-dimensional scale for assessment of erectile dysfunction.

This study surveyed 325 men with an average age being 46. It found that men who use cannabis more frequently have a higher overall erectile domain, orgasm domain, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction which I found quite interesting. The study did call out, though, that the clinical significance of this is pretty low, and there might be some selection bias and generalization, so like any study, take it with a grain of salt.

I also found a 10 year-long Canadian study looking at the impact of cannabis use on male sexual function. So, this is a big study and they looked at 7,809 males. 12.7% of them were cannabis users already, and 87.3% of them were non-users and the average age was around 37.

They found that the men who use cannabis have a higher average serum total of testosterone than non-users, although they also had a higher rate of positive Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male (ADAM) scores. The cannabis users also reported a higher sexual frequency compared to non-users. So men who consume cannabis have sex 8. 8 times per month versus men who don't use cannabis have sex 7. 8 times per month. It’s not a huge difference, but I thought this was interesting.

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My Experience With Cannabis & Sex Anxiety

Like I said earlier, this is a really open and honest conversation about cannabis and sex so I want to share my experience with using it. I’ve been using cannabis on and off for 10 years but it wasn't until the last 2 years where I really started using it intentionally as a tool for sex. In past relationships and with past partners, I think I struggled with sex because oftentimes during sex, I would feel in my head, meaning that I was so aware of the act of sex that it made me feel nervous, even grossed out that I was having sex. It was around the same time that I started using cannabis for sex and it was helpful for me, that I realized I had sex anxiety. Sometimes I would be having sex and I'd be thinking of something else and not be in the moment and that was kind of like an awakening for me when I started to become more conscious of that.

I do think a lot of this sex anxiety for me stems from the stigmas of growing up in an Asian household as well as some sexual trauma that I experienced when I was a lot younger, which I won’t get into. But I feel like all of that stigma and trauma is probably in the back of my head lingering somewhere and that's probably why I developed sex anxiety, which just got worse over time because I never really dealt with it head on.

Two years ago I met my current partner and he’s someone who uses cannabis as well. Not necessarily for sex, but it just so happened that he would often consume before we had sex and it got me intrigued to try it myself. I felt that he really provided me with a safe and comfortable space to try it out and I noticed that my anxiety with him and surrounding sex honestly just melted away. I started to notice a pattern where every time I had a specific type of edible, I would want to have sex and over the past few years, I've just really started to dial into my sexual self. I also started finding products that really work for me when it comes to having sex and reducing my sex anxiety and overall, I honestly think my relationship with sex and my ability to have good sex has completely improved for the better.

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Cannabis Products and Formulations That I Use For Sex

At this point, you’ve seen a lot of the science behind it, and you’ve heard my story about why I use cannabis when having sex so now you might be wondering, where do I start? What products do I use? What should I consider when starting to incorporate it? Well for starters, it’s all about listening to your body and trying things out slowly. Everybody is different especially when it comes to cannabis so always make sure you’re taking your time and being open and honest about how you’re feeling.

There are so many different cannabis products out there ranging from cannabis flower, concentrates and edibles to topicals and drinks. There’s even cannabis infused lube! It might be challenging to pick which one works best for you so I’ve created a pros and cons list for each method to hopefully help you decide:

Cannabis Flower or Concentrates

Pros:

• You can get the cannabinoids into your system pretty much instantly.
• There tends to be quite a range in product so you have lots of options for finding a specific strain that works best for you.
• Dry herb vaporizer is good because you can use it in bed, have low dose/tokes throughout the experience, and it's not messy.

Cons:

• There are potential impacts to lung health with potential carcinogens when smoking traditionally (if you’d like to learn more about that I have a whole blog post and youtube video talking about vaporizing vs. smoking).
• Smoking often leaves an odor in your mouth that might be unpleasant for you and your partner during sex.

Edibles

Pros:

• The dosage can be quite straightforward and allows for great personalization.
• You can find lots of edibles with balanced blends that include CBD, THC and even CBG.
• You can test out different formulas / strains depending on whether you like a more relaxing or uplifting experience.

Cons:

• It’s a much slower onset time. You have to plan a bit further in advance if you do decide to take an edible.
• If you choose to have a cannabis drink, sometimes it can slosh around in your stomach during sex or cause unwanted bloating (but this varies from person to person).

Topicals

Pros: 

• If you’d prefer a topical method there are lots of products that are constantly coming out such as cannabis infused lube and massage oils.
• It can facilitate the act of sex and create a more intimate experience with your partner in that sense.

Cons:

• Be cautious of ingredients and what you’re applying to your body.
• I’ve tried the lube before and didn’t really notice much of a difference - it might be a more mild experience.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the plant can act as a very personalized tool in your toolkit when it comes to sex. While I do have to acknowledge some biases and potential flaws in the science (which is important to do with any scientific data across any industry,) there does seem to be quite a lot of merit and positive signs that cannabis actually may improve a person's sex life, help relieve chronic pain and aid in the sexual function of both men and women.

I know from my personal experience, that the plant has completely changed the way I have sex and the pleasure I actually feel from it, and it’s helped reduce so much sex anxiety for me. I hope this conversation today has helped you understand why the plant might benefit you and your sex life, and if you have any questions or comments or just want an even more in-depth understanding, check out my youtube video or podcast episode to learn more!