Over the last few years, CBD has gained popularity for it’s believed health benefits, including for chronic pain, inflammation, anxiety and insomnia. This interest in CBD then spread over into the sexual wellness industry, resulting in numerous CBD products being advertised to treat all sorts of sexual health and pelvic conditions.
But the research supporting these benefits (and the potential risks) is limited and more research still needs to be done. So how do you make sense of all this information? Can CBD really help improve your sexual experiences and is it worth a try? Keep reading to find out!
What is CBD?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive component of cannabis or hemp, which is different from THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, which gives you a “high”.
What can CBD lubricants and oils do for you?
While research is limited regarding the use and efficacy of CBD products, there is some promising data suggesting it could assist with the following:
Management of chronic pain and pain with sex
CBD can be a helpful adjunct to your pain management plan for a number of chronic pain conditions, including vulvodynia, vaginismus, endometriosis, interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome.
But please don’t use CBD as your first or only choice for managing chronic pain without discussing it with your medical practitioner. All chronic pain should be investigated thoroughly and evidence-based treatments should ideally be the first choice.
Relieving muscle spasms
CBD can help ease muscle spasms, including the pelvic floor muscles which can be tight due to stress or various conditions affecting the pelvic floor.
Improving genital sensation
CBD can improve blood flow to the genitals, which can result in increased sensitivity, especially to the clitoris. In this way, it can assist with arousal and potentially even increase your desire for sex. Becoming more aware of your genitals can lead to arousal which can result in responsive sexual desire.
Improving vaginal lubrication
Increased blood flow to the vagina can also improve vaginal lubrication, which can be helpful for those struggling with vaginal dryness due to a number of different reasons.
Assisting with anxiety
Many people struggle with anxiety, especially when it comes to sex. This anxiety could be due to many reasons, including performance anxiety, anxiety about potential discomfort or pain with penetration, or just general life worries distracting you during sex.
Alleviating some of that anxiety could help you be more present in your body during sex and help you focus more on your own pleasure.
What are the risks of using CBD products?
CBD is known to potentially cause side effects such as nausea, fatigue and irritability. It can also potentially interact with some medications, like blood thinners, anti-epileptics and heart medications. So make sure to talk to your medical practitioner if you are worried about any possible medication interactions. Due to limited research on safety, it’s not recommended for those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, elderly, children, or immunocompromised.
CBD is not a registered or regulated medication, it is seen as a “dietary supplement” according to the FDA. This means that you can’t be sure whether the product may be poor quality, contain harmful ingredients, or even contain the amount of CBD stated on the packaging.
This is why it’s so important to make sure you get your CBD product from a reputable source and that the product is tested by an independent laboratory to ensure potency and safety. Always make sure to read the ingredient list of any product you are using on your genitals.
In Summary
CBD products can potentially be used to improve your sexual health and sexual experiences. It does this by increasing blood flow to the genitals, relieving muscle spasms and pain, improving vaginal lubrication, enhancing genital sensation, and providing a general feeling of relaxation.
When it comes to CBD products, remember that research is limited but promising. Hopefully in the near future we will have more concrete evidence to work with. For now, it may be worth a try and may be a very helpful addition to your management plan if you have a pelvic condition.
References:
- White, C.M. (2019), A Review of Human Studies Assessing Cannabidiol’s (CBD) Therapeutic Actions and Potential. The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 59: 923-934. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcph.1387
- Stefania Bonaccorso, Angelo Ricciardi, Caroline Zangani, Stefania Chiappini, Fabrizio Schifano, Cannabidiol (CBD) use in psychiatric disorders: A systematic review, NeuroToxicology, Volume 74, 2019, Pages 282-298, ISSN 0161-813X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2019.08.002.
- Klein C, Hill MN, Chang SC, Hillard CJ, Gorzalka BB. Circulating endocannabinoid concentrations and sexual arousal in women. J Sex Med. 2012 Jun;9(6):1588-601. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02708.x. Epub 2012 Mar 29. PMID: 22462722; PMCID: PMC3856894.
- Vučković S, Srebro D, Vujović KS, Vučetić Č, Prostran M. Cannabinoids and Pain: New Insights From Old Molecules. Front Pharmacol. 2018 Nov 13;9:1259. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01259. PMID: 30542280; PMCID: PMC6277878.
- Muller C, Morales P, Reggio PH. Cannabinoid Ligands Targeting TRP Channels. Front Mol Neurosci. 2019 Jan 15;11:487. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00487. PMID: 30697147; PMCID: PMC6340993.
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