Cannabinoid receptors are present in the bladder, prostate, urethra, penile tissue, and seminal vesicles, with therapeutic potential for bladder disorders.
Urologists, sexual medicine specialists, and cannabinoid therapeutics researchers.
What the researchers found
CB1 and CB2 receptors and endocannabinoids present in lower urinary tract and reproductive tissues. ECS targeting proposed for bladder disorders. No clinical data for reproductive conditions.
Why it matters
Overactive bladder affects millions. ECS presence in these tissues suggests cannabinoid-based treatment options.
The numbers in context
ECS found in bladder, prostate, urethra, penile tissue, seminal vesicles.
How the study worked
Narrative review of basic research and clinical studies on ECS in urological tissues.
What this study cannot tell us
Narrative review. Most evidence preclinical. No reproductive clinical data.
How to read the evidence
Synthesizes preclinical evidence but clinical data remains sparse.
When this study was published
2025 review of ECS in lower urinary and genital tract.
The bigger picture
The endocannabinoid system extends well beyond the brain, with urological therapeutic implications.
Questions still open
- Could cannabinoids treat overactive bladder?
- Does cannabis affect sexual function through ECS?
Common questions
Is the endocannabinoid system in the bladder?
Does cannabis affect sexual function?
Read the original research
The significance of endocannabinoid receptors and endocannabinoids in the lower urinary and genital tract.
World journal of urology, 44(1), 26
Citation
Ückert, Stefan; Hedlund, Petter; Tsikas, Dimitrios; Kuczyk, Markus A. (2025). The significance of endocannabinoid receptors and endocannabinoids in the lower urinary and genital tract.. World journal of urology, 44(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-025-06045-x
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