A survey of 373 women found that cannabis use before sex doubled the odds of satisfactory orgasm, with most users reporting improved desire, pleasure, and orgasm quality.
Read this if you are a woman curious about how cannabis affects sexual experience, or if you are interested in the emerging research on cannabinoids and female reproductive health.
2.13x odds of satisfactory orgasm with cannabis before sex (p=0.04) — 68.5% reported more pleasurable overall experience
The Backstory
Female sexual dysfunction is one of the most common — and least studied — areas in medicine. An estimated 40% of women experience some form of sexual difficulty, from low desire to pain during intercourse to difficulty reaching orgasm. Yet the number of FDA-approved treatments for female sexual dysfunction can be counted on one hand, compared to more than two dozen for men.
Into this research desert walked Becky Lynn, an OB/GYN and sexual medicine specialist at Saint Louis University, who noticed something her patients kept telling her: cannabis helped. Women were reporting that using cannabis before sex increased their desire, made orgasms more intense, and reduced pain — but no one had systematically studied it. The medical literature on cannabis and sexuality was almost entirely focused on men, and mostly on negative effects (reduced sperm count, erectile dysfunction with heavy use).
In 2019, Lynn published the first study designed specifically to examine how cannabis use before sex affects sexual function in women. The results made national headlines — not because they were shocking, but because someone finally asked the question.
The Study
Lynn and colleagues surveyed 373 women presenting for gynecologic care at a single academic OB/GYN practice in St. Louis between March 2016 and February 2017. The survey asked about cannabis use patterns, whether they used cannabis before sexual activity, and how cannabis affected five domains of sexual function: sex drive, orgasm, lubrication, pain during sex (dyspareunia), and overall sexual experience.
The sample broke down into three groups:
Study Population
373 Women at an Academic OB/GYN Practice
52.8%
Non-cannabis users
197 women who did not use cannabis
34.1%
Used cannabis before sex
127 women — the key study group
13.1%
Cannabis users, not before sex
49 women who used cannabis but not in a sexual context
Lynn et al. (2019), Sexual Medicine 7:192-197
The demographics reflected the practice population: mean age 34-37 years, majority white (51-73%), predominantly heterosexual (87-94%). This wasn't a nationally representative sample — it was a clinical population at a single center — but it was the first controlled look at a question that had only existed as anecdote.
The Results
Cannabis Before Sex
Effects Reported by Women Who Used Cannabis Before Sexual Activity
2.13x
Odds of satisfactory orgasm
aOR 2.13, 95% CI 1.05-4.35, p=0.04 — adjusted for race
68.5%
More pleasurable overall
87 of 127 women reported improved overall sexual experience
60.6%
Increased sex drive
77 of 127 women reported higher desire
52.8%
More satisfying orgasms
67 of 127 women reported improved orgasm quality
Lynn et al. (2019), Sexual Medicine 7:192-197
The headline finding: women who used cannabis before sex had more than twice the odds of reporting satisfactory orgasms compared to women who didn't use cannabis (adjusted odds ratio 2.13, 95% CI 1.05-4.35, p=0.04). This held after adjusting for race — the most significant demographic variable in the analysis.
A secondary finding was equally interesting: frequent cannabis users — regardless of whether they used it before sex — also had twice the odds of satisfactory orgasm (aOR 2.10, 95% CI 1.01-4.44, p=0.02). This suggests the effect isn't purely situational. Regular cannabis use may shift baseline sexual function in ways that persist beyond the acute high.
The other four domains showed consistent trends in the same direction but didn't reach statistical significance:
The pattern is clear even where individual domains don't reach significance: cannabis before sex was associated with improvement in desire, orgasm, and satisfaction, with minimal effect on lubrication or pain. In a study powered for 373 participants with one significant primary outcome, the consistent direction of the non-significant results suggests real effects that a larger study would likely confirm.
Why It Might Work
Lynn proposed several mechanisms, each grounded in known cannabinoid pharmacology:
Process
Proposed Mechanisms: How Cannabis May Enhance Female Sexual Function
Anxiety and inhibition reduction
Cannabis reduces activity in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex — brain regions responsible for anxiety, self-consciousness, and social inhibition. For women whose sexual difficulties are driven by performance anxiety or inability to 'get out of their head,' this may be the primary mechanism.
Altered time perception
THC distorts the subjective experience of time, making moments feel longer and more immersive. During sexual activity, this could prolong the subjective experience of pleasurable sensations — making a 10-second orgasm feel like it lasts much longer.
Enhanced sensory perception
Cannabis intensifies touch, taste, smell, sight, and sound. During sex, heightened tactile sensitivity could amplify physical pleasure. This is one of the most consistently reported effects across both clinical and survey research.
Endocannabinoid system and arousal
The endocannabinoid system interacts with the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, which regulates sex hormones. Endocannabinoid levels have been shown to correlate with arousal states. Cannabis may be supplementing a system that is already involved in sexual response.
Dopamine enhancement
THC increases dopamine release in reward circuits. Since dopamine is centrally involved in desire, motivation, and pleasure, this could enhance both the wanting and the enjoying aspects of sexual experience.
Lynn et al. (2019); Sun & Bhatt (2023), J Cannabis Res
What This Study Didn't Measure
This was a first pass at an under-researched question, and it had important limitations that honest interpretation requires acknowledging.
Myth vs. Reality
The Evidence
Evidence-based analysis
Other limitations: the survey didn't define "sex" — participants used their own definition. It didn't assess timing between cannabis use and sexual activity, the amount consumed, or whether cannabis was used alongside alcohol or other substances. It didn't capture relationship context or partner satisfaction. And it was conducted at a single practice in St. Louis, limiting generalizability.
The Research Landscape
Lynn's study didn't exist in isolation. It was the first to ask about cannabis and female sexual function directly, but it arrived in a small and growing field.
Research Timeline
Cannabis and Sexual Function Research
Tart: first systematic survey of cannabis and sex
Koff: cannabis users report increased orgasm intensity
Sun et al.: frequency of cannabis use linked to sexual frequency
Palamar et al.: cannabis and sexual experience survey
Lynn et al.: first study focused on women
Kasman et al.: cannabis and sexual function follow-up studies
Wiebe & Lynn: CBD for orgasm difficulty in women
Compiled from published literature
What makes Lynn's contribution distinctive is focus. Rather than asking the broad question ("does cannabis affect sex?"), she asked the clinically relevant one: does cannabis use before sex improve specific, measurable domains of sexual function in women? And she asked it with the same validated-survey methodology used in pharmaceutical sexual dysfunction research.
Why This Matters Beyond the Bedroom
Female sexual dysfunction affects an estimated 40% of women at some point in their lives. The FDA has approved only two drugs for it — flibanserin (Addyi) and bremelanotide (Vyleesi), both for hypoactive sexual desire disorder, both with modest efficacy and notable side effects. There are no approved treatments for female orgasmic disorder.
For those curious about the broader interaction between cannabis and sexual health, our guide to sex and cannabis covers both sides — the potential benefits and the potential downsides for men including testosterone effects with heavy use. The picture is more nuanced than either "cannabis is an aphrodisiac" or "cannabis kills your sex drive" — and this study is the strongest evidence we have for one part of that picture.
The Relationship between Marijuana Use Prior to Sex and Sexual Function in Women
Lynn BK, Lopez JD, Miller C, Thompson J, Campian EC (2019) · Sexual Medicine
Related Research
Key studies in this area
On Being Stoned: A Psychological Study of Marijuana Intoxication
Tart CT (1971)
Association Between Marijuana Use and Sexual Frequency in the United States
Sun AJ, Eisenberg ML (2017)
Investigation of sex-dependent effects of cannabis in daily cannabis smokers
Cooper ZD, Haney M (2014)
Does cannabis improve orgasms for women?
In this survey of 373 women, those who used cannabis before sex had 2.13 times the odds of reporting satisfactory orgasms compared to non-users (p=0.04). More than half (52.8%) of women who used cannabis before sex reported more satisfying orgasms. However, this is survey data showing an association, not a controlled experiment proving causation. Individual responses likely vary based on dose, strain, anxiety levels, and other factors.
How much cannabis should you use before sex?
This study didn't measure dose, strain, or method of consumption. Based on general cannabis pharmacology, lower doses are likely more beneficial — cannabis has well-documented biphasic effects where low doses reduce anxiety and enhance sensation while high doses can increase anxiety and cause withdrawal from social engagement. Start low and give the effects time to develop before sexual activity.
Does cannabis affect lubrication?
The majority of women in this study reported no change in lubrication with cannabis use. While cannabis can cause dry mouth (cottonmouth) via effects on salivary glands, vaginal lubrication is regulated by different physiological mechanisms and doesn't appear to be significantly affected.
Does cannabis help with pain during sex?
The data on dyspareunia (pain during sex) did not show a significant effect in this study (aOR 0.69, p=0.40). However, cannabis is well-documented as an analgesic through other research, and some women anecdotally report reduced sexual pain with cannabis use. The question may need a study specifically designed to assess pain outcomes with adequate power.
Is this different from what cannabis does for men?
Potentially yes. Heavy cannabis use in men has been associated with erectile dysfunction and reduced testosterone, though moderate use may have different effects. This study was designed specifically to examine women because the female sexual response involves different physiological pathways, and the endocannabinoid system interacts differently with male and female reproductive hormones.
What the researchers found
Women who used cannabis before sex had 2.13 times the odds of reporting satisfactory orgasms compared to non-users (aOR 2.13, 95% CI 1.05-4.35, p=0.04). Frequent users also had 2.10x odds of satisfactory orgasm regardless of timing (p=0.02). 68.5% reported more pleasurable overall experience, 60.6% increased sex drive, 52.8% more satisfying orgasms.
Why it matters
This was the first study designed specifically to examine how cannabis affects sexual function in women. With female sexual dysfunction affecting ~40% of women and only two FDA-approved treatments available, the finding that cannabis may enhance orgasm satisfaction opens a potential therapeutic avenue in an area with enormous unmet clinical need.
The numbers in context
373 women surveyed. 127 (34%) used cannabis before sex. aOR for satisfactory orgasm: 2.13 (95% CI 1.05-4.35, p=0.04). Frequent users aOR: 2.10 (95% CI 1.01-4.44, p=0.02). 68.5% reported more pleasurable overall experience. 60.6% increased sex drive. 52.8% improved orgasm satisfaction.
How the study worked
Cross-sectional survey at a single academic OB/GYN practice (Saint Louis University). 373 women surveyed March 2016-February 2017. Sexual Health Survey assessed perceived effects of cannabis on sex drive, orgasm, lubrication, dyspareunia, and overall experience. Multivariate logistic regression adjusted for race and age. SAS Version 9.4.
Who was studied
373 women presenting for gynecologic care at an academic OB/GYN practice. Mean age 34-37 years, majority white, predominantly heterosexual.
What this study cannot tell us
Single-center design limits generalizability. Self-reported data subject to recall bias. Did not measure dose, strain, THC/CBD ratio, timing, or consumption method. Did not assess concurrent substance use (alcohol). "Sex" was not defined — participants used own definition. Cross-sectional design cannot establish causation.
How to read the evidence
This is a cross-sectional survey — it shows association, not causation. The single-center design and self-reported outcomes limit the evidence grade, but the consistent direction of effects across multiple domains and the statistical significance of the primary outcome after demographic adjustment strengthen the finding.
When this study was published
Published in 2019. Subsequent studies have generally supported positive associations between cannabis and female sexual function.
The bigger picture
This study arrived in a research landscape that had almost entirely ignored female sexual function and cannabis. With only two FDA-approved drugs for female sexual dysfunction (both for desire disorder, neither for orgasmic dysfunction), the finding that cannabis may enhance orgasm satisfaction represents a potential new avenue. Subsequent studies have generally supported the association.
Questions still open
- What dose and timing optimize the effect? Do THC and CBD contribute differently? Is the effect driven by anxiety reduction, sensory enhancement, or direct endocannabinoid modulation of reproductive physiology? Would a controlled trial confirm the association? Does regular cannabis use change baseline sexual function?
Common questions
Does cannabis improve orgasms for women?
How much cannabis should you use before sex?
Does cannabis affect lubrication?
Read the original research
The Relationship between Marijuana Use Prior to Sex and Sexual Function in Women.
Sexual medicine, 7(2), 192-197
Citation
Lynn, Becky K; Lopez, Julia D; Miller, Collin; Thompson, Judy; Campian, E Cristian. (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