Cannabis and Female Orgasmic Disorder: Promising Survey Findings
A 2024 survey suggests that some women who experience difficulty reaching orgasm may find cannabis helpful before partnered sex—but the findings do not yet establish cannabis as a proven treatment.
The study, published in Sexual Medicine by Suzanne Mulvehill and Jordan Tishler, analyzed responses from 387 adult women who reported using cannabis before partnered sex. Of those participants, 202 reported difficulty achieving orgasm, a condition commonly referred to as female orgasmic disorder (FOD).
Researchers asked participants to compare their orgasm experiences during partnered sex with and without cannabis use. Among women who reported orgasm difficulty, 88.8% said they experienced an orgasm at least some of the time when using cannabis, compared with 63.3% when they did not use it. The researchers also found improvements in reported ease of orgasm and satisfaction.
In the same group, 71% said orgasm was not difficult when cannabis was used before sex but was difficult without it. Satisfaction showed a similar pattern: 86.1% reported being satisfied or at least equally satisfied with cannabis, compared with 43.6% without it.
These were self-reported comparisons rather than results from a randomized clinical trial. The participants were already cannabis users who used it before sex, so the sample may not represent women who do not use cannabis or people with different patterns of sexual dysfunction. The study also did not record cannabis dose, product composition, THC or CBD concentration, route of administration in a way that allowed detailed comparisons, or whether partners used cannabis.
The research identified several factors associated with a more positive orgasm response. Sixty percent of all participants reported a mental-health diagnosis, with anxiety and depressive disorders among the most commonly reported conditions. Participants with a mental-health diagnosis were more likely to report a positive orgasm response after using cannabis before sex. A history of sexual abuse was also associated with a more positive response across the full sample.
Those associations should not be interpreted as evidence that cannabis treats anxiety, post-traumatic stress, sexual trauma, or the underlying causes of orgasmic disorder. The study did not test whether cannabis changed traumatic memories or brain activity, and it could not determine whether cannabis itself produced the reported improvements. Relaxation, expectations, the sexual setting, and other differences between encounters may also have influenced the results.
The authors proposed several possible explanations for the findings. Cannabis might reduce distracting thoughts or self-monitoring during sex, potentially making it easier for some people to focus on pleasurable sensations. They also discussed the possibility that repeated positive experiences could help some women develop greater confidence or familiarity with orgasm. These remain theories requiring direct study.
The researchers concluded that cannabis warrants further investigation as a possible option for women with orgasm difficulties. They specifically called for randomized controlled trials that could evaluate dose, product type, timing, safety, and longer-term effects. Until those studies are available, the results are best viewed as encouraging observational evidence—not proof that cannabis is effective for everyone or that it should replace established sexual-health care.
The findings have nevertheless influenced medical-cannabis policy discussions. Illinois approved female orgasmic disorder as a condition eligible for medical-cannabis treatment in January 2025; the Illinois Department of Public Health described the evidence as suggesting potential benefit.
Ohio took a different administrative route. In a position statement updated in March 2025, the State Medical Board said female orgasmic disorder was covered by existing qualifying conditions—post-traumatic stress disorder or chronic or intractable pain—rather than adding it as a separate condition.
For people experiencing persistent difficulty with orgasm, causes can include medications, hormonal changes, pain, relationship factors, anxiety, trauma, and other medical or psychological issues. A clinician or qualified sexual-health professional can help assess those possibilities. Cannabis may prove useful for some individuals, but more rigorous research is needed to determine who might benefit, under what circumstances, and at what risks.
