A new systematic review published in Sexual Medicine concludes that cannabis shows strong potential for treating female orgasmic disorder (FOD) and orgasm difficulty, conditions affecting up to 41% of women worldwide and lacking FDA-approved medications.
The analysis included 16 studies spanning five decades, with data from 8,849 female participants. Nine studies evaluated cannabis use immediately before sexual activity, all reporting improvements in orgasm function—such as frequency, ease, intensity, satisfaction, and multiorgasmic capacity. One randomized controlled trial found significant benefits for women with acquired sexual dysfunction following gynecologic cancer treatment.
While some studies noted occasional adverse effects—including situational anorgasmia or difficulty focusing—most reported consistent improvements, particularly among women using cannabis specifically to address orgasm difficulty. Frequent use, especially before sex, was linked to greater benefits, and lower to moderate doses generally produced better outcomes than higher doses.
Researchers propose multiple mechanisms for these effects, including reduced cognitive distractions, enhanced sexual fantasy, altered states of consciousness, and modulation of the endocannabinoid system, which is involved in arousal, mood, and stress regulation.
The authors recommend that FOD/difficulty be recognized as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis and call for more randomized controlled trials to determine optimal dosing, administration methods, timing, and strain specificity.
The study concludes by stating:
Cannabis appears to be a promising treatment for FOD/difficulty, with the majority of studies reviewed reporting improvements in orgasm function and satisfaction among women who use cannabis. These benefits were observed across diverse study designs, populations, and cannabis use contexts. Given this growing body of evidence, FOD/difficulty should be considered a qualifying condition for medical cannabis, and medical cannabis should be evaluated as a potential first-line treatment. These findings suggest a strong association between cannabis use and improved orgasm function, but further RCTs are needed to establish causality and better define key parameters, such as dosage, route of administration, timing of use, strain specificity, and the differential effects on FOD subtypes.
More articles from The Marijuana Herald:
