Recent scientific studies show what several marijuana users continued to claim all along – pot enhances and increases sexual relations. Due to cannabis being classified as a Schedule I substance, almost all research currently into the effects of the cannabis plant is prohibited by the United States government. However, 31 states in total and the District of Columbia legalized medical marijuana, while nine states also legalized the adult use of recreational marijuana. The required age to consume under recreational use is 21. By making the drug legal, researchers are finally given the chance to study and analyze marijuana’s effects, which includes its impact on sexual intercourse.
According to a research study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine (JSM), the ultimate goal of the study was, “To elucidate whether a relation between marijuana use and sexual frequency exists using a nationally representative sample of reproductive-age men and women.”
28,176 women and 22,943 men nationwide represented the analysis. These men and women were surveyed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) via a questionnaire. The CDC’s survey is commonly used by researches as a basis for further, more specific analysis since it’s a broad, all-encompassing survey.
Researchers Dr. Michael L. Eisenberg and Dr. Andrew J. Sun, who are both affiliated with the Department of Urology, at Stanford University, in California, accessed the CDC’s study to research marijuana’s effects on male sexual and reproductive function. Dr. Eisenberg happens to be an expert in this area of research as he sees men with various forms of sexual dysfunction.
The study revealed that “marijuana use is independently associated with increased sexual frequency and does not appear to impair sexual function.” To dig further into details, daily users across all demographic groups reported having 20% more sex than those who have never used cannabis. Though, the duo encountered several men and women, Dr. Eisenberg believes doing further research in this area is highly important.
Another JSM-published study entitled, The Relationship Between Marijuana Use Prior to Sex and Sexual Function in Women, conducted at Saint Louis University in Missouri claims, “The internet is rife with claims regarding the ability of marijuana to improve the sexual experience; however, scientific data is lacking.” The main goal of this study “is to determine if marijuana use before sex affects the sexual experience, by how much, and which domains of sexual function are affected.”
During this survey, researchers surveyed 133 sexually-active adult women at one particular academic Ob/Gyn practice during their annual check-ups. The female patients all filled out a quite long questionnaire about marijuana use before sex. 29 percent of women disclosed consuming cannabis prior to copulation. 68 percent reported more pleasurable sex, while 16% said it ruined their sexual experience. The remaining 16 percent claimed they were undecided or unaware. According to Forbes, 62% said it enhanced the quality of their orgasms and their libidos in general.
The same research team further widened the study to 289 adult MUBS women, who all claimed similar results. 65 percent claimed it enhanced their sexual experience, while 23 percent said it didn’t matter whether they consumed marijuana or not. 9 percent provided no significant feedback and 3 percent said it ruined their sexual experience.
“Although some studies have shown results that are equivocal, anecdotally patients have reported positive feedback,” says Dr. Grover of Asira Medical. “Consumption of small quantities [of marijuana] prior to sex may increase libido in female patients, which in turn can release positive endorphins and increase vaginal lubrication.”
Dr. Grover, who did not participate in the actual study, believes this reasoning may be due to the short-term anxiolytic of cannabis. Some women who experience reduced sexual libido usually correlates with any anxiety or stress they are experiencing, so in the short-term effects, cannabis can be anxiety-reducing. However, in the long term, cannabis holds the potential to increase anxiety. Dr. Grover is currently conducting her own study to determine this theory.
