How Cannabis Can Boost Your Sexual Health

Sex and sexual intimacy are an important part of life for the vast majority of adults, so when sexual dysfunction occurs — in 43 percent of women and 31 percent of men according to recent research––it can lead to relationship issues, decreased quality of life, or low self-esteem. Sexual problems come in many forms, from erectile dysfunction to inhibited desire or arousal and could stem from physical causes, like diabetes, hormone imbalance, and substance abuse, or psychological causes such as stress, anxiety, or depression. Though there are many pills and potions that claim to help boost a better sex life, in recent years, cannabis and its extracts (like CBD) have been proven effective to treat some of these symptoms, helping individuals and couples to reclaim sexual satisfaction.

Conventional Treatment for Sexual Issues

Common treatments for various sexual dysfunctions include hormone shots, pharmaceutical drugs, or psychotherapy, and because research shows anxiety disorders can cause sexual issues, anxiety medication is often adjusted to allow for fewer sexual downsides. While therapy is an effective, noninvasive way to help patients get to the root of their problems, medications and hormones can cause side effects like headache, urinary tract infections, and dizziness, and some may only be partially effective for symptoms.

Boosting Sexual Health with Cannabis

In contrast, an early study on sex from 1984 reported that cannabis increased sexual desire and pleasure, and a recent 2017 study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine demonstrated how cannabis use was associated with having more sex with no impairment of sexual function. Other positive effects of cannabis on sex include having sex for longer periods, improved orgasms, and higher sexual satisfaction.

Specific Benefits of Cannabis for Sex

Cannabis compounds like cannabidiol, or CBD, have multiple properties that could improve sexual dysfunction or boost sexual activity, like an ability to increase sensory stimulation which could help those with arousal or orgasm problems get more pleasure from sex.

In addition, CBD can relieve anxiety, so if you have an anxiety disorder that interferes with your sex life, or you need to destress or boost your self-confidence, CBD can help you calm your worries and focus on sexual enjoyment instead. For those who experience pain during sex, CBD has pain relieving properties that can be long-lasting when taken in the appropriate form.

4 Ways to Use Cannabis for Sex

Vaping

Try vaping for its fast effects and controllable dosing that allows you to take as few or as many puffs as you need. CBD or THC oils are used alone or in combination in vaporizers, so look for the appropriate amounts or proportions to treat your specific issues.

Tinctures

Tinctures are concentrated cannabis extracts in liquid form — with either THC or CBD oil, or both — that have similar traits to vaping: they work by putting drops under your tongue, so they’re also a controlled method that works very quickly.

Edibles

Ingestible cannabis foods known as edibles are a popular way to deliver cannabis, and they can also offer various doses of CBD and THC so you can find the right amount for your needs. Take care with edibles, as the body absorbs them differently than other methods and this can result in a stronger effect than expected. Edibles have a slower onset than vaping or tinctures so you might need to ingest them an hour or more before you want to see their long-lasting effects.

Lubricants

One of the newest cannabis-infused products on the market are CBD lubricants. CBD is known for its pain- relieving properties and, when used topically, results in few side effects. If you suffer from pain during sex, CBD lubricants may be an effective treatment. However, as with any new topical treatment, you should sample a small amount first and look for potential skin reactions.

Treating Your Sexual Health with Cannabis

Cannabis and its extracts, like CBD and THC oil, offer many benefits to those suffering from various issues related to sexual health, and the treatments available come in multiple forms to suit a variety of needs. If you’re current treatments aren’t working, or you’d like to try something new, talk to your doctor or therapist about treating your sexual issues with cannabis extracts and find out which cannabis or CBD treatments may be available in your area.

The content on cannabisMD is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.