Sonia’s Story: Discovering the Link Between Cannabis and Orgasm
Surprise. That was the emotion 42-year-old marketing executive Sonia* felt after experiencing a rare orgasm during penetrative sex. Reflecting on the moment, she credits one unexpected factor: a special brownie infused with cannabis.
“I wasn’t ‘in my head’ as usual,” she recalls. “Instead, I was present, fully tuned into my body – and it just happened.” Through research and personal experimentation, Sonia found that cannabis, at the right dose, helped calm her mental chatter and enhanced physical sensations.
Her curiosity was backed by science. A 2019 study in the journal Sexual Medicine found that women who used cannabis before sex were twice as likely to report “satisfactory” orgasms. Another 2023 study in the Journal of Cannabis Research revealed that 70% of users experienced increased orgasm intensity.
Motivated by these findings, Sonia approached her doctor to explore medical cannabis options. While some U.S. states, like Connecticut, now recognize cannabis as a treatment for female orgasmic difficulty disorder (anorgasmia), access remains limited in the UK. On the NHS, medical cannabis is typically reserved for conditions like epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and chemotherapy side effects. Private clinics offer broader access but come with a high cost, averaging £150 per month.
Despite her efforts, Sonia’s request was denied. Uncomfortable with illegal sourcing, she stopped using cannabis, and her struggles with orgasm continued to impact her relationship. “We both felt like failures,” she admits. “I began avoiding sex to escape the pressure and his disappointment.”
Had she been able to access cannabis legally and consistently, Sonia wonders if her relationship might have had a different outcome.
The Science Behind Cannabis and Orgasm
Sonia’s experience is not unique. The “gender orgasm gap” – the disparity in orgasm frequency between men and women – has persisted for decades. Research shows that 91% of heterosexual men achieve orgasm during sex, compared to just 39% of women, according to a landmark 2005 study. More recent surveys echo these findings, with a 2023 poll revealing that 15% of UK women have never experienced an orgasm.
Orgasms aren’t just about pleasure. Clinical sexologist Marie Morice emphasizes their health benefits, including improved mood, better sleep, pain relief, and reduced stress. Cannabis may enhance these effects by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which regulates pain, mood, and arousal.
How Cannabis May Enhance Female Pleasure
Suzanne Mulvehill, founder of the Female Orgasm Research Institute, is on a mission to promote cannabis as a tool for enhancing female pleasure. Her journey mirrors Sonia’s. After struggling with orgasm for over 30 years, Suzanne discovered that cannabis helped her climax for the first time. The experience was so profound that she sold her business and pursued a PhD in clinical sexology.
In 2023, she published research in Sexual Medicine involving over 400 women. Among those who faced orgasm difficulties, 67% reported improved orgasm satisfaction with cannabis use, while 71% found it easier to achieve orgasm.
Several scientific theories explain why cannabis might help:
- Altered State of Consciousness Theory: Cannabis may ease mental barriers, allowing for deeper physical connection and reducing performance anxiety.
- Amygdala Reduction Theory: Cannabis reduces activity in the brain’s amygdala, which governs fear and anxiety, facilitating a more relaxed state.
- Cognitive Distraction Theory: Cannabis may help quiet intrusive thoughts that disrupt arousal and orgasm.
The Future of Cannabis for Female Sexual Health
Despite promising research, significant gaps remain. Restrictions on clinical trials and societal stigma surrounding female pleasure hinder progress. The disparity in medical research is also stark: while there are 378 completed studies on erectile dysfunction, only 13 address female orgasm difficulty.
For women like Sonia, the lack of accessible treatment options is frustrating. Experts advocate for better sex education, improved medical research, and increased access to therapeutic cannabis.
As Suzanne Mulvehill emphasizes, “This is a diagnosable condition that deserves proper treatment – not women trying to figure it out on their own.”
Note: Names have been changed for privacy.