CBD is being added to many products these days, including those that are supposed to help with your intimate life. Alleged benefits include increased libido and greater lubrication. Is CBD just a fad that is being exploited for the industry or can it actually help with your intimate life?
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The effect of CBD on libido
To understand the effect of CBD on sex life, we first need to look at how it affects the whole body. Inside our bodies are tiny receptors that scientists call the endocannabinoid system (ECS). These receptors can always be activated by CBD. Think of the receptors as a lock and CBD as the key, even if CBD doesn’t completely unlock the lock, it can trigger a series of reactions in the body that stimulate the system. The body can respond to CBD indirectly in many ways;
In a 2009 article (link to article), which was published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, researchers also found ECS receptors in reproductive organs, specifically the testes. Some research studies have found that cannabinoids such as CBD and THC increase libido, while others have found that they decrease it;
An article published in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics (link to article) states that regular cannabis use reduces sexual desire, and the more it is used, the lower the desire becomes. Other research suggests that CBD products can improve libido by reducing anxiety. Some people have a fear of sexual performance, which lowers their libido. By getting rid of stress and anxiety, a better desire for sex and better performance can be achieved.
Research and studies show that CBD can reduce feelings of anxiety, including social anxiety disorder, but there are not many studies on this topic, so it is not possible to determine what dose of CBD could theoretically help;
Does CBD have other sexual benefits?
There is not much research that has looked into this, so let’s list a few.
- Erectile Dysfunction – According to an article published in BioMed Research International (link to article), Ayurveda practitioners have used Cannabis sativa (the plant from which marijuana and CBD are derived) for many years to improve ejaculatory function and sexual performance. The exact way CBD helps is not stated, but one theory is that CBD will help relax blood vessels and promote blood flow in the penis. Better blood flow will ensure better erections and thus better quality sex. Most scientific studies have focused on the arteries that lead to the heart and not the ones that go to the groin.
- More lubrication – Dryness in the intimate area is uncomfortable and makes sex either painful or nearly impossible without lubricants. Some CBD manufacturers make lubricants that contain CBD as a means of increasing pleasure. Scientists have studied the effect of CBD in the field of dermatology, and apparently it has anti-inflammatory effects that could theoretically make sex more comfortable, but there are no studies that confirm increased lubrication by using CBD;
- Low Sexual Desire – One 2017 study (link to study) reports that the part of the brain that controls sexual arousal is activated in cannabis users. The authors of the study concluded that cannabis use may be helpful for people with low libido.
Possible disadvantages
The potential side effects usually depend on how you use CBD. Some people may have an allergic reaction to other added ingredients found in CBD products. CBD itself doesn’t give you any significant disadvantages, only the cannabis itself, especially marijuana, poses a danger. Marijuana has known effects on infertility, reducing follicle-stimulating hormone levels in men and women, reducing normal sperm development in men (which can reduce fertilization), and affecting a woman’s normal reproductive cycle, including ovulation. However, these are the effects of cannabis, which contains THC. The effect of CBD on fertility has not yet been studied, so it is not possible to determine whether it also has any effect on fertility;
How to use CBD in your sex life
If you want to incorporate CBD use into your sex life, there are several ways to do so. For example, using massage oil as foreplay, using lubricants with CBD, using oil or other products with CBD to help reduce anxiety and stress. Since there is a lack of research on the topic of CBD and sex, when you use it, you will see for yourself how CBD affects you. If you would like to use CBD even before conceiving a child, always check with your doctor first;
