With the recent legalization of weed in several states, and the creation of several sex-specific THC products like Foria personal lubricant, more people are becoming curious about the relationship between marijuana and sex. Here’s what we know so far about how weed can affect various aspects of your sex life.
Inhibitions
Many weed enthusiasts report that weed makes them more relaxed and lowers their anxiety and sexual inhibitions. They report being interested in trying particular activities that they might have been too shy to try sober. Anxiety’s ability to decimate every aspect of a person’s sex life should not be underestimated. A little anxiety relief may be just what you need to have a better sex life.
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But just like wine, too much weed can have the opposite effect. Paranoia— one of the most stereotypical reactions to weed—doesn’t exactly make sex very fun. And other people find that instead of making them feel relaxed and uninhibited, weed actually makes them feel anxious and stuck in their own thoughts
The effect that weed will have on your sexual inhibitions probably boil down to the effect that weed has on you in general. If you tend to be relaxed and happy on weed, you’ll probably be more open to sex while high. If weed makes you anxious and paranoid, it’s probably not a great idea to smoke for the explicit purposes of lowering your sexual inhibitions.
Safety
Weed’s ability to lower inhibitions can also lead to sexual safety issues. You might be more willing to engage in risky behaviors while high. You may also be forgetful about your usual safety practices, like wearing condoms. Consent can get fuzzy as well, if you’re not in your right mind to fully agree to something or ensure that your partner is also enthusiastically on board. If weed tends to send you into a different stratosphere, you may want to avoid having high sex unless you’re with a trusted partner.
Sex Drive
There hasn’t been much research specifically on the link between sex drive and marijuana. For many people, less anxiety and lower inhibitions make them much more interested in sex, so in that way, weed seems to anecdotally increase their sex drive. But too much weed can also impair your overall sex drive. It’s hard to get motivated for the physical exertion of sex if you’re experiencing weed-induced laziness.
Sexual Frequency
A recent study by the Stanford University School of Medicine found that marijuana usage was correlated with increased sexual frequency in both men and women. Researchers found a 20% increase in sexual activity in those who smoked weed versus those who didn’t. The increase was found across all demographics – age, race, socioeconomic status, education levels, and so on. Of course, that’s correlation, not causation.
Enjoyment and Orgasm
Many people anecdotally report that smoking weed during sex makes them feel more playful, open, and connected to their partners. Just as smoking weed with your buddies can be a bonding experience, so can smoking weed and having sex with your partner. Some people also feel that weed heightens their experience of sensation, making touches and caresses feel more pleasurable. Foria, one of the most well-known cannabis products, claims to help women reach orgasm more easily simply by using the THC-infused lubricant during intercourse.
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Unfortunately, the news isn’t as rosy for men. Multiple studies have linked daily marijuana usage with erectile problems and an inability to reach orgasm. It should be noted that the aforementioned Stanford University study, which is one of the most thorough studies to date, found that marijuana usage did not impair sexual functioning.
Fertility
Potentially bad news for pot users trying to get pregnant: in small studies, regular marijuana usage (more than once per week) has been found to decrease sperm counts by as much as 30%. Researchers suspected that the decrease was caused by the interaction of THC with the sperm. A separate study found that even if the woman is the one who has smoked, the THC in her system can affect any sperm that enters her reproductive system. Researchers have thus far hesitated to describe this as a clear causation, but unless you’re smoking weed for medical reasons, you may want to consider dialing back until you get pregnant. (Of course, women who are pregnant shouldn’t smoke.)
Relaxation and Sleep Quality
For most people, energy is the biggest barrier to sexual activity. If you’re exhausted, it’s extremely difficult to get into the mood. Weed can not only help you sleep better on an ongoing basis, but can also make you feel much more relaxed in the moment itself. For many people, that can be enough to jumpstart your sex life.
from Lifehacker http://bit.ly/2yP2Lgr
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