This Valentine’s Day approximately 43% of Women and about 31 % of Men will experience some degree of Sexual Dysfunction. Sexual Dysfunction is difficulty by an individual or a couple during any stage of normal sexual activity symptoms and can include Erectile Disorder (ED), Female and Male Orgasmic Disorders, Female Sexual Arousal Disorder, Hypoactive Sexual Desire, Painful Intercourse, Premature (early) ejaculation and more. Many lifestyle practices can cause these symptoms like your daily medications, including but not limited to anti-depressants/anti-anxiety medications and other physical and psychological ailments and age.
Are any of these symptoms causing you to dread Valentine’s Day this year?
Here’s some information that might help spice things up. If you’re looking to improve sexual health, cannabis might be the answer! It has been utilized as early as the 7th Century in India as an aphrodisiac.
In case you didn’t know, your body makes its own natural version of cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) and there is a significant amount of receptors for those compounds in areas of the brain that deal with sexual function such as the amygdala and hypothalamus. Recent research suggests that 2-AG (arachidonoylglycerol), an endocannabinoid, is released in humans after orgasm, suggesting that these compounds may be involved in normal sexual processes.
What are the most common sexual dysfunctions in men and women?
According to research found by Dr. Jordan Tishler at Harvard University
Men 1. Lack of Libido
2. Early Finish
Women 1. Lack of Libido
2. Difficulty achieving orgasm
How can Cannabis help?
Cannabis might be the answer to solve both problems for Men and Women. Although, success can be a bit trickier in men as the right dosing amount can be easily overlooked. Through much research lower dosing (micro-dosing) was found to be better for both Males and Females. It has been associated with prolonged duration of intercourse, improvement in the quality of the orgasm and increased sexual satisfaction. Higher dosing was associated with erectile dysfunction, sterility and reduction in testosterone levels – indicating too much cannabis could be causing these symptoms. Dosing with cannabis is a very personal experience, depending on the type of cannabis, how you have consumed it and how much you consumed can affect your sexual abilities. No matter the situation and symptom you will want to stay within comfortable levels.
Out of all the methods of intake, most research and medical professionals discourage smoking. Carbon monoxide is released during combustion and inhalation and can cause blood constriction to the body’s extremities. It may be the cause for ED and difficulty with climax in Females. Vaporizing, if choosing to inhale, is preferred and can be a shared experience between a couple. Cannabis can potentially work as a vasodilator (meaning it opens blood vessels and increases blood flow) which can help to aid some forms of ED (erectile dysfunction) and difficulty with female climax. THC has been found to stimulate the release of other neurotransmitters (particularly nitric oxide). Nitric oxide causes the smooth muscle of blood vessels to relax, dilate and swell with blood, a lot like the medications utilized for erectile dysfunction.
Women in Menopause experience a decrease in 2-AG and Estrogen production causing higher nerve densities in the vagina, increasing pain during intercourse and a decrease in vaginal secretions. CBD is an anti-inflammatory, in turn relaxes the muscles in the pelvic floor making penetration less painful and also has the potential to decrease the anxieties around sexual activity.
Combining both THC and CBD with the heightened senses you can experience when using cannabis and all of your erogenous zones (there are 7, if you ask Monica Gellar) will be feeling more alive than ever, priming the way to a better sexual experience.
To Be Continued……
Lets Talk About Sex! and Cannabis – Part 2 (February 14, 2020).
We will review the top CHC Patient and Cannabinoid Educator recommended strains for Sexual Dysfunction symptoms.