Does Smoking Weed Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
Weed is the UK’s most popular illegal drug, but does it affect your performance in the bedroom?
The answer is nobody is really sure.
Illegal drugs like cannabis have long been associated with an enhanced sexual experience. However, new research has found that people who smoke weed daily are three times more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction.
There are limited studies on the effect of illegal drugs and sexual performance so let’s take a look at both sides of the story.
Why can illegal drugs like weed cause erectile dysfunction?
This is the technical bit, so bear with me.
You get an erection when the smooth muscle of the corpus cavernosum in the penis relaxes, increasing blood flow.
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a psychoactive substance in cannabis that makes you feel stoned. Cannaboid receptors are found all over the body and are activated by THC. In the brain, these receptors cause you to feel high.
However, the effect is not so good in other places. You guessed it – the corpus cavernosum has a cannaboid receptor.
Studies are inconclusive. They show that in some cases activating the receptor in the penis stops the muscle from relaxing and restricts blood flow. The result? Erectile dysfunction.
It’s not a good idea to mix an illegal drug like cannabis with Viagra if you are experiencing erectile dysfunction. Cannabis prevents Viagra from properly metabolising. This increases its effect and can lead to other health issues like heart problems.
Can weed enhance the sexual experience?
Other people report an enhanced sexual experience after smoking cannabis. The illegal drug can cause a feeling of euphoria, increase arousal, help with relaxation and increased sensitivity to touch.
You’ve probably heard the old myth that cannabis can help you last longer in bed. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence to back this up. But some studies suggest that the illegal drug merely alters your perception of time so while you might think you are going for longer, that might not actually be the case…
Lack of Evidence
Unfortunately, there is not enough evidence to firmly conclude if illegal drugs cause erectile dysfunction.
Like many illegal drugs, cannabis affects people in different ways. The impact depends on a number of factors. These include frequency and method of consumption, tolerance to the drug, age, general health and lifestyle habits.
Further studies are required to draw any hard conclusions (pun intended). Over to you, science.
References
- https://www.civilized.life/articles/is-weed-dick-real-the-science-behind-marijuana-and-erectile-dysfunction/
- https://www.civilized.life/articles/what-weed-dick-is-and-how/
- https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/news/a47260/is-weed-dick-the-new-whiskey-dick/
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02791072.1982.10471910?journalCode=ujpd20#.VhKsqmTBzGd
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1743609519313293
- https://www.healthline.com/health/erectile-dysfunction/is-smoking-weed-good-or-bad-for-ed
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317104.php
