Cannabis consumption can change a woman’s sexual response, University of Porto (FMUP) Faculty of Medicine researchers concluded in a study conducted on laboratory animals.
In a study published in the European Journal of Neuroscience, researchers evaluated the “mechanism of action” of the main psychoactive component of cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in the presence of female hormones (estradiol and progesterone). ., advances on Tuesday, in a statement, FMUP.
Researcher Susana Sa, quoted in the paper, explains that the team demonstrated “how cannabis-induced endocannabinoid system dysregulation affects neural circuits and alters women’s sexual behavior.”
“These side effects of THC are modulated by the endocrine system,” adds the FMUP professor and CINTESIS researcher.
According to Susana Sa, the main psychoactive component of cannabis acts on neurotransmitters (glutamate and GABA), which are regulators that can “activate or inhibit neurons.”
“We see that THC increases the activation of the mechanisms that trigger the sexual response, and at the same time increases the inhibition of the mechanisms that should stop this reaction.”
The study used a low, constant dose of cannabis over a short period of time to mimic intermittent use, so the effect of increasing doses or over the long term on sexual behavior is unknown.
The researchers note that the study is warranted, “especially at a time when the use of cannabis is on the rise,” a plant that has been produced and sold in Portugal since 2018 for therapeutic purposes.
Emphasizing that cannabis can be addictive, increase the risk of psychosis, and can cause destructive sexual behavior, the researchers say it’s “urgent” to be aware of the side effects of using the substance.
“There is an urgent need to learn about the possible side effects of using cannabis for therapeutic purposes, as this may be one of the reasons for stopping treatment,” they argue.
The study, led by Susanna Sa, Flavia Costa (FMUP) and Bruno Fonseca from the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Porto (FFUP), is part of a larger project in which researchers are trying to understand the effects of cannabis on the neural mechanisms of learning, memory and the development of new neurons.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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