Cannabis and the Future of Treating Female Orgasmic Disorder/Difficulty

Female Orgasmic Disorder/Difficulty (FOD) affects up to 72% of premenopausal women, yet no FDA-approved pharmacological treatments exist, and current therapies remain limited in effectiveness. This review examines cannabis as a potential treatment for FOD, situating it within the multidimensional biological, psychological, cultural, and relational factors that shape orgasmic difficulty and highlighting the need for integrated treatment approaches. Research dating back to the 1970s shows that cannabis can improve orgasm function, quiet intrusive thoughts, heighten arousal, and deepen bodily connection. Two U.S. states have approved FOD as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis, reflecting emerging clinical and policy recognition of its therapeutic value. Cannabis enhances orgasm-facilitating processes including sensory responsiveness, present-moment attention, and interoceptive awareness, while reducing orgasm-inhibiting processes such as anxiety, cognitive distraction, and inhibition. Because orgasmic difficulty is multidimensional, effective care requires multidimensional interventions rather than generalized models. Cannabis aligns with this complexity as a therapeutic ally, yet its integration into sexual medicine has been slowed by clinical and regulatory frameworks that have historically emphasized misuse and addiction rather than therapeutic application. Reframing cannabis within both clinical practice and policy supports interdisciplinary collaboration and advances responsible, evidence-based care for women with FOD.