CBD for Erectile Dysfunction

Christine Bell • February 5, 2019 • About CBD, Conditions

While comedians sometimes make light of it, and an occasional issue getting or maintaining an erection might be something to chuckle about with your partner after the fact, chronic erectile dysfunction can actually be a devastating condition. One that can interfere with intimate relationships, derail feelings of self-worth, and even cause depression and anxiety. Today we’re going to talk about how utilizing CBD for erectile dysfunction might be able to help men who are struggling with this condition.

CBD for erectile dysfunction at a glance:

What the claims are: CBD can help relieve the symptoms and many of the issues that can cause (and be caused by) erectile dysfunction.
What the studies show: We were unable to find any human studies on CBD’s direct effect on erectile dysfunction. Anecdotal evidence suggests that there are many men experiencing higher sex drives and relief from impotence after adopting a CBD regimen.
What the facts say: While we don’t have conclusive data, due to the established connection between the role of endocannabinoids and mammalian sexual behavior, the need for studies on the potential effects of CBD for erectile dysfunction can’t be overstated.

What exactly is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough to engage in sexual intercourse. Occasional bouts of impotence aren’t necessarily a cause for concern, but long-term erectile dysfunction can not only cause all sorts of emotional issues like depression and anxiety, it can also signal underlying health conditions that could need treatment.

Symptoms of erectile dysfunction are pretty straightforward and can include one or more of the following:

Trouble getting an erection
Trouble keeping an erection
Reduced sexual drive

The root cause of erectile dysfunction varies, and is often elusive, as we human beings are a complex species. Sexual arousal involves not just our hormones, nerves, and blood flow. It also involves our minds and emotions. Erectile dysfunction can result from a problem in any of these areas, and can often be cyclical.

For example, if you’re experiencing pain and take a medication with a potential side effect that inhibits sexual response, just the concern or anxiety over that possibility might wind up causing the issue in the first place. As stress and anxiety increase, so might the severity of the condition. In other cases, erectile dysfunction might be caused by an underlying issue or other, physical health concern, such as:

Heart disease
Clogged blood vessels
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Obesity
Metabolic syndrome
Parkinson’s disease
Multiple sclerosis
Certain prescription medications
Tobacco use
Peyronie’s disease — development of scar tissue inside the penis
Alcoholism or other forms of substance abuse
Sleep disorders
Surgeries or injuries

How can CBD be used to help with erectile dysfunction?

CBD for erectile dysfunction can be a potential help as it has been known to increase sex drive as well as create a calm and zen state of mind. In fact, early studies have shown that CBD can alleviate anxiety and even help with depression.

There is also evidence to suggest that CBD can increase blood flow. While we know that helps regulate blood pressure spikes, it could also have something to do with the results many are experiencing when they take CBD for erectile dysfunction.

Medical studies related to CBD for erectile dysfunction

As mentioned above, we were unable to find any studies that dealt with CBD for erectile dysfunciton directly. However, there are some studies on how CBD affects the biological processes related to sexual function.

Our bodies’ endocannabinoid systems play a role in regulating various cognitive and physiological functions. Those functions include our moods and also affect our sexual responses. Because CBD (cannabidiol) interacts with our own cannabinoid receptors, it seems logical that it would also have an affect on our sexual responses and potentially be of help to those suffering from this issue.

There is also evidence that CBD acts as an antioxidant. This could be of help as discussions of harmful toxins causing erectile dysfunction have arisen.

We’re hoping that there will be some clinical trials on the horizon so that we can delve deeper and explore the potential of utilizing CBD for erectile dysfunction.

What are the risks of using CBD for erectile dysfunction?

CBD is considered to be both safe and well tolerated by most who use it. And, according to a recent study by the World Health Organization, it is not associated with abuse potential. That said, some people might not find that CBD helps with their erectile dysfunction.

Due to the potential link between chronic cannabis use and male sexual dysfunction, we should also note that, while CBD is a compound derived from the cannabis plant, it has not been shown to cause sexual issues. In fact, we’re seeing lots of media reports on the exact opposite side of the spectrum.

Should I give CBD for erectile dysfunction a try?

As of this writing, no research has been done on CBD for erectile dysfunction. While research indicates the endocannabinoid system is involved with sexual function, it’s unclear from a scientific standpoint whether CBD could help with erectile dysfunction. That said, anecdotal evidence seems to support that some men are finding that CBD has increased their sex drive as well as their ability to get and maintain an erection.

However, if you are suffering from this issue and find the anecdotes encouraging, CBD’s remarkable safety profile makes it fairly safe to try, providing you’re not taking any medications that will interact with it. Keep in mind that the lack of scientific studies doesn’t mean that it won’t work, just that we don’t know for certain whether or not it does.

As with any change to your healthcare regimen, you should talk to your doctor before adopting a CBD regimen. Especially as there might be a more serious, underlying health issue that needs to be addressed. And, if you’re currently taking any prescription medications, you should check with your pharmacist to ensure that CBD won’t interact with any of them in a negative way.