Sex is a normal and healthy human function, but some individuals face intimate challenges that can be hard to talk about. In researching CBD and sex and cannabis and sex, you will find a lot of claims on the internet. Many people are wondering if natural products like CBD and cannabis for sex can have benefits. However, it is hard to tell information from observation in much of the online content you will find.
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Cannabis, CBD, and Sex
When it comes to sex and CBD, the research is simply non-existent. Many prominent internet publications such as Healthline and Huffington Post have cautiously worded articles that suggest CBD sex benefits. Healthline portrays hemp company owners as medical 'experts' (they are not). Meanwhile, Huffington Post goes as far as citing an online poll from 'Remedy Review' and framing it as actual institutional research or validated statistics (it is not).
However, if you read closely, it is entirely observational data and claims that CBD will help by helping other health aspects (these are also misleading medical claims). Observations can be insightful, but not informative. Beware of these disinformation articles!
As for marijuana (not hemp) and sex, there is some actual clinical and research data into cannabis and sexual function. For a long time, research into marijuana and sex was focused on the negative impacts on pregnancy. Now researchers are gathering observations on cannabis and sex using scientific methods and parameters.
To be clear, you should never take marijuana or CBD products when pregnant or nursing. Please consider CBD side effects and talk with your doctor for any medical concerns.
Cannabis and Sex Research
One particular researcher, Becky K. Lynn, MD, is the main source for what is currently known about cannabis and sex. She and her team published have published multiple research papers around their studies from 2017 to 2019. In their 2019 publication, Lynn and her team aimed to evaluate the perceptions of women who use marijuana prior to sexual activity [1].
This means that this research is gathering observational data under a scientific system [1]. They gathered their information by surveying female patients who were being seen for gynecological and related medical services. The responding women replied that they used marijuana prior to sex for reasons such as:
- Sexual satisfaction enhancement
- Better ability to orgasm
- Enhanced lubrication
- To ease pain (dyspareunia)
- Enhance overall sexual experience
Does Cannabis Help Sex?
These patients observed that, for them, marijuana improved their sexual experiences and orgasm [1]. This is far from proof or evidence that cannabis and sex have overall positive benefits. Overall, only 34% of the 373 participants felt sexual benefits they attributed to cannabis use. However, it does spark interest in how the endocannabinoid system that processes cannabinoids can relate to sexual changes.
Further Research
Researchers Andrew J. Sun, MD, and Michael L. Eisenberg, MD have also investigated the ties between marijuana and sex [2]. Like Lynn, their research is observational and doesn’t tell us much about why cannabis may benefit aspects of sexual health. Their survey included 28,176 women (average age 29.9 years) and 22,943 men (average age 29.5).
In their study, marijuana use was associated with increased overall sexual frequency in both men and women of all participating demographics [2]. Of the monthly, weekly, and daily marijuana users 95% of men and women participating had increased sexual frequency when compared to non-marijuana users.
Sexual frequency seemed to increase with increased marijuana consumption [2]. However, Sun and Eisenberg caution that while there is a correlation, marijuana may not be the true cause.
Final Thoughts on Cannabis and Sex
While scientific surveys have observed positive associations between cannabis use and sex, the data is still observational. The large question of “how does cannabis benefit sex” is still a medical mystery.
It truly cannot even be said that cannabis itself really does benefit sex on a physiological level. What this research does show is that more investigation is truly warranted.
References
- Lynn, B. K., López, J. D., Miller, C., Thompson, J., & Campian, E. C. (2019). The Relationship between Marijuana Use Prior to Sex and Sexual Function in Women. Sexual Medicine, 7(2), 192–197.
- Sun, A.J. and M.L. Eisenberg. (2017). Association Between Marijuana Use and Sexual Frequency in the United States: A Population-Based Study. Journal of Sexual Medicine 14:1342.
