jason-crawford

Medically Reviewed by
Jason Crawford

Article Last Updated on December 28, 2022

The increased legalization of marijuana in the last few years has made it more available to more people who use it for different purposes, including sex life. Many cannabis users like to combine weed and sex because it improves their overall sexual experience and for some, it even increases their sexual desire and lowers their inhibitions. But what does science have to say about these phenomena?

In this article, we’ll talk about how marijuana use can affect your sex life and sexual health, including its positive and negative effects.

Weed and Sex Life – Does Cannabis Have Any Particular Effects On Sexual Function? 

Weed has been used for thousands of years, oftentimes as an aphrodisiac, plus there is also countless anecdotal evidence from marijuana users about its effects on sexual function.

However, some studies may help us understand how marijuana affects the body in terms of sexual function and sexual health, and what the positive and negative effects are. 

Let’s review what we have learned so far.

Daily Use of Cannabis May Increase Sexual Frequency 

There is one study conducted by the Stanford University School of Medicine in 2017 which suggests that there is a link between the use of cannabis and sexual frequency. The participants were sexually active men and women of which some were cannabis users while the others weren’t. The results of the study revealed that the cannabis users who smoked weed daily had more sex than the non-users by about 20%. 

For comparison, women who smoked weed daily were sexually active about 7.1 times per month, while women who didn’t use weed had sex about 5 times a month. Similarly, men who smoked marijuana had sex 6.9 times per month, and men who were non-users did it 5.6 times per month.

Finally, the researchers concluded that marijuana use didn’t impair sexual function; on the contrary, it increased the frequency of sexual activity. (Sun & Eisenberg, 2017)

Marijuana Use Before Sexual Activity May Increase Sexual Satisfaction In Females

Another study conducted in 2019 by the Saint Louis University School of Medicine examined how marijuana use before engaging in sex impacts the overall sexual experience of women. 

The participants were women, both users and non-users, who filled in an extensive questionnaire that covered multiple sexual domains. The results showed that 34% of the women consumed weed before having sex. Most of the users reported having an increased sex drive and decreased pain, but there were no changes in terms of lubrication. 

The study concluded that “women who reported marijuana use before sexual activity had 2.13 higher odds of reporting satisfactory orgasms than women who reported no marijuana use.” The researchers propose that the role of the endocannabinoid system needs to be better examined because it could help to treat sexual dysfunction in women. (Lynn et al, 2019)

Marijuana Use May Affect Different Aspects of Sexual Health and Sexual Performance In Males

Several studies have examined different aspects of sexual health in men, such as sperm health and erectile dysfunction.

One 2015 study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology examined how marijuana affects sperm quality in sexually active men both marijuana users and non-users. The results of the study demonstrated that those who used marijuana regularly (at least once a week) had 28% lower sperm concentration and 29% total lower sperm count than non-users. 

Similarly, a 2019 review of literature on sperm motility published in the Journal of Urology discovered that there is strong evidence that marijuana use reduces sperm count and sperm motility, which can, in turn, affect fertility. However, most of these findings were based on animal studies and more human studies are needed to confirm the discoveries.

Finally, the use of cannabis is also associated with erectile dysfunction, according to a 2019 review of clinical trials published in the American Journal of Men’s Health. The findings suggest that erectile dysfunction is two times higher in marijuana users compared to non-users. Still, researchers urge that the relationship between marijuana use and erectile dysfunction needs to be examined further to confirm or refute it, and to see whether it’s caused by higher doses of cannabis.

Does Marijuana Use Improve Your Overall Sexual Experience?

From what we already know about the effects of marijuana, we can say that it makes you more relaxed and uninhibited, which is just what you need when you’re in a sexy mood. 

We do know that marijuana communicates with the body through the endocannabinoid system and its cannabinoid receptors which are located in various places of the body, including the reproductive organs. Moreover, some of these receptors are located in parts of the brain that get activated during sexual arousal.

THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is known to stimulate the release of dopamine, the happy hormone that makes you feel warm and fuzzy, and causes the euphoric feelings that recreational users seek. THC also sharpens the senses and makes everything look and feel more vivid, which can be especially heightened during sexual arousal, while CBD (cannabidiol) helps you to relax and ease the anxiety. 

However, even so, you should be careful how much weed you smoke before sex because too much weed can lead to side effects that can ruin the mood. 

Final Thoughts – Weed Definitely Affects Sexual Behavior, but More Research Is Needed

The relationship between marijuana and sexual behavior is definitely understudied, but we hope to learn more information over time. Previous studies have shown that weed has beneficial effects on sexual frequency and the overall sexual experience in women, but some negative effects on sperm health and sexual performance in men. Needless to say, this is an important topic that would greatly benefit from further research.

Additional Sources

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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esxm.2019.01.003

Lynn, B., Gee, A., Zhang, L., & Pfaus, J. G. (2020). Effects of Cannabinoids on Female Sexual Function. Sexual medicine reviews, 8(1), 18–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sxmr.2019.07.004  

Sun, A. J., & Eisenberg, M. L. (2017). Association Between Marijuana Use and Sexual Frequency in the United States: A Population-Based Study. The journal of sexual medicine, 14(11), 1342–1347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2017.09.005

A passionate advocate for the benefits of cannabis. Fraser Horton, who has a background in botany and a strong love of nature, has spent years researching how cannabis affects the body and mind. He established Leaf Nation in 2020, where he has devoted himself to educating people about the legalisation of marijuana and its safe and responsible use. Fraser is committed to highlighting cannabis’ potential for improving wellness and working to dispel the stigma associated with its use.

Disclaimer

The information presented on this page is provided as a public service to aid in education and is derived from sources believed to be reliable. Readers are responsible for making their own assessment of the topics discussed here. In no event shall Leaf Nation be held reliable for any injury, loss or damage that could happen if using or abusing drugs.