Cannabis Consistently Linked to Improved Female Orgasm Function | Research

The takeaway

A systematic review of 16 studies covering 8,849 women found consistent evidence that cannabis use before sex improves orgasm frequency, intensity, and quality.

Women with orgasm difficulties, sexual health clinicians, medical cannabis advocates

All 9 studies of pre-sex cannabis use showed improved female orgasm function

What the researchers found

All 9 studies examining cannabis use before sexual activity reported improvements in female orgasm function, including increases in frequency, ease, intensity, quality, and multiorgasmic capacity. However, some cases of situational inability to orgasm due to lack of focus were also reported.

Why it matters

Female orgasmic disorder affects up to 41% of women worldwide with no approved medications. If cannabis consistently improves orgasm function, it could fill a significant unmet medical need.

The numbers in context

16 studies, 8,849 females. 9 studies of pre-sex use: all 9 showed improvement. 1 RCT included. Improvements in frequency, ease, intensity, quality, and multiorgasmic capacity. Some reported focus-related difficulty.

How the study worked

PRISMA-based systematic review of 16 studies (1 RCT, 15 observational) including data from 8,849 females, evaluating cannabis effects on orgasm function with risk of bias assessment.

What this study cannot tell us

Most studies observational with high risk of bias. No standardized cannabis dosing or products. None used clinical FOD diagnosis. Self-reported outcomes subject to expectancy effects. Only 1 RCT in the review.

How to read the evidence

Consistent direction of effect across studies, but predominantly observational designs with high risk of bias.

When this study was published

2025 systematic review of the cannabis-orgasm literature.

The bigger picture

The consistency of improvement across 9 studies is striking for a field with few effective treatments. The authors argue female orgasmic disorder should be a qualifying condition for medical cannabis.

Questions still open

What dose and strain optimize the effect? Does the benefit persist with regular use? What mechanism explains the improvement? Could CBD alone be effective?

Common questions

Does cannabis improve orgasm for women?

All 9 studies that examined cannabis use before sex reported improvements in some aspect of orgasm function, including frequency, ease, intensity, and quality. However, some women reported difficulty focusing, which could have the opposite effect.

Should cannabis be prescribed for orgasm difficulties?

The review authors argue yes, calling it a promising first-line treatment for female orgasmic disorder. However, the evidence comes mostly from observational studies, and more randomized trials are needed to confirm the benefit.

Read the original research

Cannabis for female orgasmic disorder/difficulty: a systematic review.

Sexual medicine, 13(4), qfaf061

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Mulvehill, Suzanne; Tishler, Jordan. (2025). Cannabis for female orgasmic disorder/difficulty: a systematic review.. Sexual medicine, 13(4), qfaf061. https://doi.org/10.1093/sexmed/qfaf061