Sexual dysfunction in women is a challenging issue that can cause serious difficulties in relationships. It can also bring about feelings of guilt, anxiety and shame, as well as a sense of frustration or depression about the situation.
To make matters more complicated, it can be a touchy and embarrassing topic to talk about. While discussions of male sexual dysfunction—along with medical research on how to solve it—are becoming more commonplace, female sexual dysfunction remains a taboo topic. This can make it all the more difficult for women to find solutions.
Thankfully, research shows that cannabis can improve the sexual experience for women. Here are a few reasons why cannabis can help.
Sexual Problems for Women
Sexual dysfunction simply refers to any problem that prevents one or both sexual partners from experiencing satisfaction from their sexual activity. While most talk of sexual dysfunction focuses on male erectile dysfunction, women actually suffer from sexual dysfunction more frequently.
Some of these issues include:
- Low libido
- Pain during sex
- Difficulty becoming aroused
- Vaginal dryness
- Inability to achieve orgasm
A full 43% of women have some sort of sexual dysfunction they’re dealing with. On the other hand, 31% of men report difficulty with sexual function.
These problems may be the result of physiological issues like low blood pressure, chronic health conditions or medications. But they can also be related to psychological factors like anxiety, shame or PTSD from previous sexual trauma. And sometimes these issues just come down to inadequate stimulation.
Whatever the reason for the issue, sexual health and enjoyment are important to overall health and well-being. The good news is that cannabis may be able to help get your sex life back on track.
Women Say Marijuana Helps Improve Their Sex Life
Anecdotal stories from cannabis consumers have been telling us for years that marijuana can enhance lovemaking. Plus, there’s a long history of cannabis’s use as an aphrodisiac that goes back thousands of years. It’s use as a sexual aid and treatment has been documented in seventh century Indian texts, ancient Chinese writings, among Germanic tribes, and in African cultures in Uganda, Egypt and Morocco.
In recent times, researchers have begun to study this important use and are finding that yes, cannabis does improve sex.
In one survey, more than two-thirds of respondents said that cannabis increased sexual pleasure and satisfaction. Of those surveyed, 20% said that they used cannabis for sex on a regular basis. And in an informal poll conducted by a journalist, the result was replicated. Again around 67% said cannabis makes sex better.
Still, not everyone reported this positive result. There were 12% of respondents who found that cannabis has a negative effect on sex. And 20% said that it depends on factors like dose, strain and mood.
So, while not everyone finds cannabis to be helpful (maybe due to the fact that they haven’t found the right type or dose of cannabis yet), the majority of people report positive results. One study even showed how cannabis consumption lowers the likelihood of aggression or domestic violence between sexual partners.
Perhaps the biggest sign of cannabis improving sex is that cannabis users have more sex on average than those who don’t consume marijuana.
How Cannabis Helps Enhance Sex
So, how does cannabis help enhance sex? There are a few ways that it can help:
RELATED: 5 WAYS MARIJUANA CAN MAKE FOR BETTER SEX
- Marijuana spikes libido with testosterone: One big reason that cannabis may help increase arousal is by increasing testosterone. High testosterone levels are linked to arousal and low doses of the cannabis compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have been shown to dramatically spike testosterone, getting the cannabis consumer in the mood for love.
But be warned: Too much THC actually has the opposite effect, sending testosterone (and the sexy mood) to even lower levels than normal. Maybe that’s why some people report that cannabis inhibits sexual activity—they actually take too much cannabis.
- ** Cannabis eases anxiety:** For women, a lot of sexual disorders are related to anxiety. Whether it’s anxiety over sex or just having a hard time letting go of life’s responsibilities and to-do lists during the act, anxiety can kill your sex life.
Luckily, cannabis has been shown to help with promote feelings of relaxation. Research shows that when patients take cannabis, both their subjective levels of stress and biological markers of stress, like cortisol levels, decrease. With cannabis, it’s easier to forget about your worries and relax in the moment.
- ** Marijuana reduces painful sex:** Pain during sex is another big reason for sexual dysfunction in women—and cannabis can help with that, too. Marijuana is known for its incredible pain-relieving properties. And there have even been studies that show that the plant reduces pain during sex.
That said, since painful sex can be a sign of some larger medical problem, don’t take cannabis to ignore the problem. Be sure to go to a doctor to find out the root cause of any intense or persistent pain.
- Cannabis increases sensitivity and pleasure: Cannabis consumers also report that the plant increases sensitivity to the pleasurable sensations during sex, including orgasm. In one study, 70% of subjects reported increased pleasure when using cannabis during sex. In another study, 65% of respondents reported increased sexual pleasure, while 53% reported more enjoyable orgasms.
Simply put, cannabis just makes sex feel better.
Using Cannabis When You’re Having Sex
Curious about consuming cannabis to improve your sexual health?
There are a wide variety of options to try, and they affect people differently, so what works for one person may not work for another. Aim for marijuana strains that you already know relax you and put you in a good mood.
Remember, too much THC can lower your arousal and spike your anxiety, so it’s smart to go easy on the THC. To play things safe, start off with non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) and add THC to augment as needed.
You may just be one dose of cannabis away from that perfect night of bliss.
Photo credit: Jan Zukov
