Does Marijuana Increase Your Sex Drive

Sexual practice Med. 2022 Jun; 7(2): 192–197.

The Human relationship betwixt Marijuana Use Prior to Sex and Sexual Function in Women

Becky K. Lynn, Doctor,^ane, ^∗ Julia D. López, PhD, MPH, LCSW,^two Collin Miller, MSW,ⁱⁱⁱ Judy Thompson, RN, CCRC,³ and E. Cristian Campian, Doc, PhD⁴

Becky Thou. Lynn

ⁱDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health, Division of General Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United states of america

Julia D. López

²Department of Behavioral Science and Health Education, College of Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA

Collin Miller

³Maternal Fetal Care Center at SSM Wellness St. Mary'south, St. Louis, MO, Usa

Judy Thompson

^threeMaternal Fetal Care Center at SSM Wellness St. Mary's, St. Louis, MO, USA

East. Cristian Campian

⁴Section of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Wellness, Division of Urogynecology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United states

Received 2022 Apr 25; Accepted 2022 Jan 12.

Abstract

Introduction

Scientific research on the effects of marijuana on sexual functioning in women, including libido, arousal, orgasm, and satisfaction, is limited.

Aim

To evaluate women'due south perceptions of the upshot of marijuana apply earlier sexual practice.

Methods

A cross-exclusive design, from March 2022–February 2022, inside a single, academic, obstetrics and gynecology practice, was performed. Patients were given a questionnaire at their visit and asked to complete it anonymously and place information technology in a locked box later on their visit.

Principal Consequence Measures

The chief outcome was satisfaction in the sexual domains of bulldoze, orgasm, lubrication, dyspareunia, and overall sexual experience. The secondary outcome was the upshot of the frequency of marijuana use on satisfaction.

Results

Of the 373 participants, 34.0% (due north = 127) reported having used marijuana before sex activity. Most women reported increases in sex activity drive, improvement in orgasm, decrease in pain, but no alter in lubrication. Afterward adjusting for race, women who reported marijuana employ before sexual practice had 2.13 higher odds of reporting satisfactory orgasms (adapted odds ratio = 2.13; 95% CI = one.05, iv.35) than women who reported no marijuana utilize. Subsequently adjusting for race and age, women with frequent marijuana utilize, regardless of use before sexual activity or non, had 2.10 times college odds of reporting satisfactory orgasms than those with infrequent marijuana employ (adjusted odds ratio = 2.ten; 95% CI = 1.01–4.44).

Conclusion

Marijuana appears to better satisfaction with orgasm. A ameliorate understanding of the role of the endocannabinoid arrangement in women is important, because there is a paucity of literature, and information technology could help atomic number 82 to development of treatments for female person sexual dysfunction.

Lynn BK, López JD, Miller C, et al. The Relationship between Marijuana Use Prior to Sex and Sexual Role in Women. Sex Med 2022;7:192–197.

Key Words: Female person Sexual Response, Epidemiology, Wellness Beliefs and Attitudes, Women'south Sexuality

Introduction

Over the last decade, marijuana utilize and the legalization of marijuana, medically and recreationally, has continued to increment in the Usa.1 The internet is rife with claims of the beneficial effects of marijuana on several aspects of sexual office including libido, arousal, and orgasm. However, our scientific research on the effects of marijuana on sexual performance is limited. Recently Palamar et al2 evaluated self-reported sexual effects of marijuana, ecstasy, and alcohol utilise in a small accomplice of men and women aged 18–25. They constitute that the majority of marijuana users reported an increment in sexual enjoyment and orgasm intensity, besides every bit either an increase or no change in desire.two

Endocannabinoids, which are structurally similar to marijuana, are known to assistance regulate sexual function.iii The cannabinoid receptor, discovered in the 1990s, has been mapped to several areas of the encephalon that play a function in sexual function.3 Cannabinoids and endocannabinoids collaborate with the hormones and neurotransmitters that bear on sexual behavior. Although these interactions have non been clearly illuminated, some studies in rodents have helped to clarify the relationship between cannabinoids and the hormones and neurotransmitters that affect sexual behavior.4 Although at that place is less information on human subjects, some studies have measured patient's perceptions of the furnishings of marijuana on sexual role. Studies have reported an increase in desire and improvement in the quality of orgasm.5 Almost recently, Klein et al6 evaluated the correlation between serum levels of two endogenous endocannabinoids and plant a meaning negative correlation between endocannabinoids and both physiological and subjective arousal in women. Sumnall et al7 reported that drugs such as cannabis and ecstasy were more than oft taken to ameliorate the sexual experience than was alcohol.

The main aim of this study was to make up one's mind how women perceive the sexual experience, specifically overall sexual satisfaction, sexual activity drive, orgasm, dyspareunia, and lubrication, when using marijuana before sex. The magnitude of the change was too evaluated. The secondary aim sought to understand the issue of the frequency of marijuana use, regardless of marijuana apply before sex, on satisfaction across the different sexual function domains.

Material and methods

Women were enrolled prospectively from a single, academic, obstetrics and gynecology practice from March 2022–February 2022, and their data were retrospectively reviewed. The protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board. Eligibility criteria consisted of beingness a female, ≥xviii years of age, and presenting for gynecologic care irrespective of the reason. Each participant completed a confidential survey, including demographic data without unique identifiers after their visit, which was placed in a sealed envelope and dropped in a lock box at the clinic. The Sexual Wellness Survey was adult for the purpose of this study based on the aims of the study. At that place are several validated tools for evaluation of sexual function. The Female Sexual Office Index (FSFI)8 assesses several domains of sexual function, just information technology does not address specifically marijuana or other substance usage. The Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction9 specifically relates to vaginal intercourse, but, for purposes of this report, sex activity was deliberately left open-concluded and not restricted to vaginal penetration. In addition, the goal was not to measure whether women had sexual dysfunction, which the FSFI addresses, but to assess basic questions regarding overall sexual practice. To limit bias, the authors embedded the questions about marijuana deeper into the questionnaire. If these specific questions had been added to the standard FSFI, there was concern that the questionnaire would accept been too long and that the patients would get questionnaire fatigue and not terminate or respond thoughtfully.

Measurement of marijuana use earlier sex was dichotomized every bit yes or no. The exact timing of marijuana utilise in relation to sex was not defined, and the majority of users were smokers of marijuana. For purposes of the study, groups consisted of not-marijuana users, marijuana users before sex, and marijuana users who didn't utilise before sex. Patients reported their usage every bit several times a day or week or twelvemonth, once a day, calendar week or year and less than once a year. For purpose of analysis, frequency of marijuana utilise was measured past dichotomizing into frequent (once a week–several times a day) and infrequent (several times a year–<once a year).

"Sex" was not specifically divers in the questionnaire, and then each respondent used her ain definition of sex. Initial questions assessed their perception of their overall sexual health, including satisfaction or dissatisfaction with current sex life, sexual activity bulldoze, orgasms, lubrication, and dyspareunia. An example survey question was, "How satisfied are yous with your ability to maintain lubrication during sexual practice or intercourse?" This was followed by questions regarding marijuana usage, the frequency of apply, and whether participants perceived any positive or negative consequence of this on the in a higher place sexual domains. The magnitude of alter was measured on a Likert scale of always, sometimes, rarely, or never, and then dichotomized equally ever–sometimes vs rarely–never. For case, if patients reported that marijuana use earlier sex increased their sexual desire, they were then asked, "How often did/does marijuana use earlier sex increment your sex activity drive?" If they reported a subtract in sex bulldoze, they then answered the same question inside the context of by how much.

Bivariate analyses were conducted to measure the sample characteristics. The Shapiro-Wilk test was conducted to test for normality of the data. 1-way anova, χ and Fisher's verbal tests were used to assess for comparisons among the groups. Multivariate logistic regressions identified the independent predictors in the sample and included all covariates with P < .05 established in the bivariate correlations. Then, covariates were retained in the concluding regression model if they changed the outcome size betwixt exposure and event past more than 10%, indicating a confounding effect. Final models were adapted for race and tested using Hosmer-Lemeshow for goodness of fit. Information were analyzed using SAS Version 9.four for Windows (SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC, U.s.).

Results

A full of 373 patients completed the sexual health survey during the study flow. Not-marijuana users constituted 52.viii% (north = 197) of the sample. Of the 176 users, 34.ane% (northward = 127) used before sex and 13.1% (n = 49) did not. The mean age of the groups was non significantly unlike. The majority of women were white and identified as heterosexual (Table 1).

Table 1

Demographics of study population

Characteristics	Non-marijuana users (north = 197)	Marijuana users who don't use earlier sexual practice (n = 49)	Marijuana users who use before sex (n = 127)	P value^∗
Age, years	36.iii ± 13.1	37.4 ± 13.one	34.0 ± 11.three	.17
Race^†				.03
African American/other minorities	79 (40.vii)	13 (26.5)	62 (48.8)
Caucasian	115 (59.iii)	36 (73.5)	65 (51.2)
Sexual orientation^‡				.02
Heterosexual	180 (91.4)	46 (93.ix)	111 (87.4)
Lesbian	3 (1.5)	0 (0.0)	4 (2.vii)
Bisexual	1 (0.5)	0 (0.0)	vii (5.5)
Marital condition^§				.18
Married	95 (49.0)	24 (49.0)	46 (36.two)
Living with a partner	62 (32.0)	xviii (36.7)	55 (43.3)
Single	37 (19.ane)	vii (14.3)	25 (xix.7)
Cigarette smoker	17 (8.6)	x (xx.four)	xxx (23.6)	<.01

Amid those who reported using marijuana before sexual practice, 68.5% (n = 87) stated that the overall sexual feel was more pleasurable, 60.vi% (n = 77) noted an increment in sexual practice drive, and 52.viii% (n = 67) reported an increase in satisfying orgasms. The majority reported no change in lubrication. Participants reported their sexual experiences as "e'er to sometimes" positive related to all the domains of sexual part, except for lubrication (Figure i). After adjusting for race, women who reported marijuana use before sexual practice had 2.xiii higher odds of reporting satisfactory orgasms during sexual activity (adjusted odds ratio = 2.xiii; 95% CI = 1.05–4.35) than women who reported no marijuana employ before sex activity (Tabular array ii). There was no statistically significant difference in the other domains between these groups. Women with frequent marijuana use, regardless of use before sexual practice or non, had ii.10 times college odds of reporting satisfactory orgasms than those with infrequent marijuana employ (adapted odds ratio = two.x; 95% CI = one.01–4.44) (Tabular array 3). In that location was no significant divergence in the other domains.

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Magnitude of positive impact of marijuana use before sexual activity.

Table 2

Differences in sexual role domains between those who apply before sex and those who practise non

Sexual function	Marijuana before sexual practice (northward = 127)	Marijuana users don't use before sex (due north = 49)	P value^∗	aOR (95% CI)
Sexual life satisfaction	89 (70.1)	30 (61.2)	.11	1.85 (0.86, three.99)
Satisfying sex bulldoze	91 (71.7)	29 (59.2)	.10	1.84 (0.89, three.82)
Satisfying orgasm	86 (67.vii)	26 (53.one)	.04	2.13 (1.05, 4.35)
Increased lubrication	94 (74.0)	34 (69.4)	.50	i.32 (0.58, three.00)
Reduced dyspareunia	xx (15.seven)	x (20.4)	.forty	0.69 (0.30, 1.63)

Table iii

Overall satisfaction of sexual health based on frequency of use

	Frequent marijuana users n = 84	Infrequent marijuana users north = 86	P value^∗	aOR (95% CI)
Sexual life satisfaction	61 (72.six)	56 (65.1)	0.12	one.50 (0.64, three.48)
Satisfying sex bulldoze	57 (67.9)	61 (70.ix)	0.94	0.77 (0.35, 1.71)
Satisfying orgasm	lx (71.iv)	50 (58.1)	0.02	2.ten (ane.01, four.44)
Increased lubrication	63 (75.0)	sixty (69.8)	0.23	i.41 (0.60, 3.31)
Reduced dyspareunia	12 (14.three)	18 (20.nine)	0.29	0.68 (0.29, one.59)

Word

In our report, the majority of women who used marijuana before sexual activity reported positive sexual effects in the domains of overall sexual satisfaction, desire, orgasm, and improvement in sexual hurting but non in lubrication. Women who used marijuana before sex and those who used more oft were more than twice as likely to written report satisfactory orgasms as those who did not use marijuana before sex or used infrequently.

Our written report is consequent with past studies of the furnishings of marijuana on sexual behavior in women. In the higher up-mentioned study by Palamar et al,2 38.six% of respondents were women. Participants were asked questions like to this study's questions regarding sexual domains, including sexual enjoyment, want, and orgasm intensity and how these were affected by being under the influence of marijuana. The bulk of respondents noted an increase in sexual enjoyment (53.5%) and orgasm intensity (44.9%), whereas 31.6% noted an increase in desire, and 51.6% noted no difference.2 Our data showed a higher per centum of participants reporting improvements in each domain across the board. However, their data included both men'south and women's responses, and their questions were worded differently.

Dawley et al10 evaluated a grouping of marijuana using students (men and women) and found that marijuana smokers reported increased sexual pleasance, increased sensations, and increased intensity of orgasm. Merely more-frequent users felt that marijuana was an "aphrodisiac," a surrogate measure of desire. This report included only 22% women.10 Finally, Koff11 evaluated sexual desire and sexual enjoyment afterward marijuana use in women via a questionnaire. The majority of the female respondents reported that sexual want was increased (57.8% vs 60.6% in our report). Sexual enjoyment increased 42.9% of the fourth dimension.xi Interestingly, Sun and Eisenberg12 reported a higher frequency of sex in marijuana users, fifty-fifty when controlling for multiple variables (ie, age, socioeconomic condition). The authors surmise from their data that marijuana employ does not seem to impair sexual function. However, information technology is of import to note that marijuana apply may exist harmful.

Our study provides an interesting insight into women's perceptions of the consequence of marijuana on the sexual feel. Information technology differs from other studies in that information technology is i of the largest series to date and has a wider range of ages. It also differed in that it was a cantankerous-department of salubrious women presenting for routine gynecologic care, where most studies target younger patients and include both sexes. For this reason, it is difficult to directly compare the studies, because the sex, frequency, and expectation of these groups may be very different. However, nosotros believe it is of import to sympathise the potential result in this patient population.

The question of how marijuana leads to these positive changes in sexual function is unknown. It has been postulated that it leads to improvement in sexual function simply past lowering stress and anxiety.13 It may slow the temporal perception of time and prolong the feelings of pleasurable sensations.v, 14 It may lower sexual inhibitions and increase confidence and a willingness to experiment.7 Marijuana is too known to enhance sensations such as touch, scent, sight, taste, and hearing.15 Although this was not specifically addressed in this article, according to Halikas et al,5 the regular female marijuana user reported a heightened sensation of touch and increased physical closeness when using marijuana before sex.

It is postulated that marijuana works through a variety of mechanisms. It is recognized that marijuana and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, which controls the sexual activity hormones, interact with each other. There are cannabinoid receptors in the hypothalamus that regulate gonadotrophin-releasing hormone and oxytocin release, both of which play a part in normal sexual performance.xvi In addition, marijuana has been shown to impact testosterone levels, which play a role in sexual practice bulldoze, but how and in which direction in women is unclear.17, xviii

Female sexual function is not merely regulated past hormones, but also by centrally acting neurotransmitters, such equally dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine is a primal pro-sexual modulator in normal excitatory female person sexual part.nineteen, 20 Activation of cannabinoid receptors has been shown to enhance dopamine,19 which may be another pathway by which marijuana affects sexual function. Cannabinoid receptors accept also been localized to other areas of the brain that command sexual function, including the hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus.21, 22 Serum levels of endocannabinoids have been correlated with both subjective and objective measures of arousal.6

The strength and weakness of this study is that information technology is a single-center written report, which allows consistency of patient recruitment but does not let for assessment of generalizability. It relied on women's memory and perceptions of the sexual experience; notwithstanding, it is real life, and all questionnaires rely on remember. It did not address the context of the relationship, co-employ with other drugs, or the timing and quantity of marijuana use before sex, all of which contribute to the memory of the sexual feel. Information technology does not specifically ask whether the marijuana was taken because the patient had the perception that it would enhance performance, which would exist an inherent bias. This may be less likely because women who were frequent users (that is not specifically timed with intercourse) had the aforementioned positive relationship with comeback in satisfying orgasm. A further study could address the specific timing of marijuana use on the sexual domains though this would exist difficult unless patients were enrolled in a study that required sure timing (a very challenging study to get though the Institutional Review Board).

Conclusions

This study adds to our noesis and agreement of the effect of marijuana use on female sexual operation. Timing appears to be important with those who utilize before sex reporting a positive effect on orgasm. However, with any utilize, the bulk of women perceived improvement in in overall experience, sex bulldoze, orgasm and pain.

Argument of authorship

Category 1

(a)

Formulation and Design
- Becky K. Lynn; Julia D. López; E. Cristian Campian
(b)

Conquering of Information
- Becky Yard. Lynn; Julia D. López; East. Cristian Campian
(c)

Assay and Estimation of Information
- Becky K. Lynn; Julia D. López; Collin Miller; Judy Thompson; E. Cristian Campian

Category 2

(a)

Drafting the Article
- Becky K. Lynn; Julia D. López
(b)

Revising It for Intellectual Content
- Becky K. Lynn; Julia D. López

Category three

(a)

Final Approval of the Completed Article
- Becky K. Lynn; Julia D. López; Collin Miller; Judy Thompson; Due east. Cristian Campian

Footnotes

Conflict of Interest: The authors study no conflicts of interest.

Funding: None.

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