Can cannabis improve your sex life? It’s complicated! Both sex research and cannabis research share the same challenges with funding and stigma; however, the evidence seems to suggest that the right amount of THC can help with arousal and orgasm. At the same time, too much can interfere. 

Leaving cannabis aside for now, human sexuality is a fascinating topic. The modern era began, arguably, in 1947 when the sexologist and biologist Alfred Kinsey founded the Institute for Sex Research at Indiana University. Kinsey introduced empirical science — that is science based on data and experimentation — to sex research. Masters and Johnson introduced the sexual response cycle (desire, excitement, orgasm, plateau, resolution) to the field soon after. Since then, there has been a bit of a renaissance in sex research with more rigorous science and less stigma.

Women often struggle to achieve orgasm, and that carries health risks. Female orgasmic disorder/difficulty (FOD/difficulty), affects over 40% of women worldwide. As an aside, only 5% of men have trouble having orgasms. The female orgasm provides numerous physiological, psychological and relational benefits including stress relief, improved body image, pain relief, better sleep and cardiovascular benefits.

In a recent study using survey data, over 70% of cannabis users reported increased desire and orgasm intensity due to cannabis. Roughly the same percentage of the participants also stated that cannabis enhanced their sense of taste and touch. In another study nearly 60% said cannabis increased their desire for sex, 75% reported increased sexual satisfaction, and 65% reported an increased intensity of orgasms. 

On the Cannabis Boomer Podcast, I interviewed Dr. Suzanne Mulvehill, Ph.D., director of the Female Orgasm Training Institute. Dr. Mulvehill is an advocate for including female orgasm disorder among the conditions for prescription of medical cannabis. Her review of the literature showed consistent evidence that cannabis improves orgasm in females with and without FOD/difficulty. Dr. Mulvehill is not shy about sharing her own experiences with FOD. In fact, she hosts a podcast called “The Orgasm Hour” with Dr. Suzanne Mulvehill. 

History of research in 

cannabis and the female orgasm

The idea of cannabis helping women with orgasm difficulty is not new. Cannabis was actually included in 19th century Western pharmacopeias and sometimes prescribed for “female troubles” including menstrual issues and “hysteria.” However, direct study of its effects on sexual function was taboo and largely undocumented in the medical literature of that era. Beginning in the 1970s some surveys and small studies began appearing, often noting that users reported enhanced sexual experiences while using cannabis. The researcher Erich Goode conducted surveys that included questions about cannabis and sex, though these weren’t specifically focused on female orgasm.

How cannabis helps the brain 

set the stage for female orgasm

Neurologically, deactivation of the prefrontal cortex and parts of the temporal lobe during orgasm creates a temporary state where the usual boundaries of self-awareness become less       distinct. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can help with that. At the same time, THC binds to CB1 receptors in brain regions linked to sexual behavior, potentially increasing sensory acuity.

This altered state may serve reproductive and pair-bonding functions by reducing inhibition and increasing feelings of connection. This neurological feeling of “letting go” is essentially the brain reducing the influence of its internal supervisor — the part that’s usually monitoring and judging our experiences.

Finding the sweet spot

Like so many findings in cannabis research, the dose is key. There seems to be a sweet spot where THC helps, but more than that can ruin the mood, as it were. I can’t give specific doses to try. This is a challenging area of research because individual tolerances and experiences are so different; however, it does appear that a little THC can go a long way toward enhancing arousal and orgasm. 

How to experiment

This will probably come as no surprise, but the way to experiment with cannabis to enhance your sex life is to go slow. Everyone has their own level of tolerance, and you don’t have to figure this out on one date night. Instead, start with a single toke or vape of a balanced 1:1 CBD:THC product, and see where that takes you. You can try a small amount of an edible, but keep in mind edibles take a while to take effect, and dosing can be a challenge. Women may want to experiment on their own until they feel comfortable. Consent and communication are critical when experimenting with any substance that affects consciousness. 

Cannabis may not work for every woman, but if orgasm difficulty is a problem for you, it sure might be worth a try.