Can smoking weed every day cause erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common, affecting some 150 million individuals worldwide. ED can be caused by a number of things, from depression and diabetes to the natural aging process and certain lifestyle habits. But what about marijuana use? Can smoking weed everyday cause erectile dysfunction?

The short answer is yes, marijuana may cause ED. But the longer answer is more complicated. And if you’re one of the over 42 million people estimated to have used cannabis in the past month, you’re likely interested in learning more about marijuana and ED. So, let’s get started. 

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The legalization of recreational and medical marijuana in the United States is relatively recent—and it’s still not entirely legal everywhere in the nation. So, research on all the effects of marijuana—including its effects on sexual function—is limited but ongoing. Of the scientific literature that’s currently available, several studies contradict each other, with some saying smoking marijuana likely worsens ED and fertility, some saying it may have no impact, and others claiming it may even improve sexual performance. 

For example, some research suggests that cannabis consumption may have positive effects on sexual function. According to these studies, men who use marijuana may be more likely to:

• Have sex more often and with more partners

• Report increased sexual desire

• Find sex (and masturbation) more enjoyable since weed tends to make them feel more relaxed and more sensitive to touch

• Enjoy stronger erections, better orgasms, and higher sexual satisfaction (although the researchers admitted there may have been some issues with this study, including selection bias)

Among the studies referenced above, most did not clarify which type of weed consumption (e.g. flower, edible, topical) led to these results. That said, one study did find a link between marijuana flower and wax and increased sexual functioning and satisfaction.

At the same time, other research has linked marijuana with negative impacts on sexual function, such as:

• Making men ejaculate too soon (i.e. premature ejaculation)

• Making it tougher for men to orgasm at all

• Negatively impacting male fertility by reducing sperm count, sperm concentration, and sperm quality

• Increasing the risk of having ED

“Marijuana interacts with the endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in hormone regulation, blood flow, and neurological signaling—all of which influence sexual function,” says Justin Houman, MD, FACS, a board-certified urologist specializing in men’s health and assistant professor of urology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. “Some men report increased relaxation and heightened sensations with use, but others experience difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection.”

Marijuana also affects male fertility in several ways, says Paul Gittens, MD, FACS, urologist and sexual medicine and fertility expert with practices in New York City and Philadelphia. “We know that in animal and human studies, marijuana decreases the concentration (the amount of sperm), the motility (how the sperm are moving), as well as the morphology (the shape of the sperm). They become abnormally shaped.”

Weed’s impact on fertility sometimes surprises men, says Dr. Gittens, but weed doesn’t necessarily affect all men the same way. Men with naturally higher sperm counts may still be able to reproduce, but those who already have lower sperm counts to begin with may be especially vulnerable. 

“People may think of famous marijuana smokers who had kids, like Bob Marley, or a friend who smokes and had a kid, but for susceptible individuals with borderline sperm counts, it makes a big difference. In some of the studies, it shows nearly a 30% decrease in sperm count,” he explains.

As for weed’s impact on testosterone levels, researchers don’t yet know for sure whether it increases or decreases testosterone, according to Dr. Gittens. “It differs depending on the paper you read. One study will say that it does, one will say it doesn’t. It’s a possibility that it may.”

Short-term effects of smoking weed

When you smoke weed, the active ingredients (aka cannabinoids) act on your endocannabinoid system, which is made up of cannabinoid receptors located throughout your brain and body. The most prominent of these cannabinoids is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is responsible for that you-know-it-when-you-feel-it sensation of being high. You may move more slowly or have trouble remembering things. Take too much and you might start feeling paranoid, as well. 

In addition to its psychoactive properties, smoking weed can cause a number of short-term effects, such as euphoria, disorientation, dizziness, dry mouth, nausea, and sleepiness. It can also increase your heart rate and affect your breathing. 

As for the short-term effects of cannabis on sex? In some studies, people reported an increase in libido. This is likely because they feel a little less inhibited, which can allow them to enjoy sex a little more. These temporary increases in libido and relaxation may also reduce performance anxiety, Dr. Houman adds. 

“For people with chronic pain, marijuana can help them initiate intercourse and get out of their pain and more into the sexual function,” Dr. Gittens says.

However, people who feel sleepy after using marijuana may be less likely to be able to engage in sexual activity.

How quickly you feel the effects of marijuana depends on how you consume it. When you’re smoking weed, these short-term effects can reach their peak within 3–10 minutes of inhalation. With edibles, the high can take much longer to kick in—around 1–2 hours.

Long-term effects of smoking weed

Getting stoned may be fun for some, but it can also have several long-term effects that are worth considering. Frequent or heavy use of marijuana has been linked to health issues such as:

• Addiction

• Altered brain development

• Cognitive impairment

• Chronic bronchitis

• Lower overall life satisfaction

Chronic use of chronic (pardon the pun) may also have lasting negative effects on your sex life. (Researchers have yet to define what exactly “chronic use” is, but most agree it ranges from using weed often enough to develop a tolerance, whether that be multiple days a week or multiple times a day). 

Not only can it cause fertility issues, but continued marijuana use, “especially at high doses,  has also been linked to lower testosterone levels, impaired sperm quality, and vascular dysfunction—all risk factors for ED,” Dr. Houman says. And on that note…

While weed can make you horny, a growing body of research suggests it may also cause ED, particularly among chronic smokers. It can make it harder to get and maintain an erection, and some studies have found that smoking weed can make you 2–4 times more likely to have ED. Although some of this association may be due to the action of smoking, which can have its own negative effects. 

“Smoking and vaping introduce toxins that may harm blood vessels, increasing the risk of ED,” Dr. Houman says. 

It’s possible that consuming cannabis through another form, such as edibles or sublingual tinctures, may have less detrimental effects. But we don’t know for sure since there hasn’t been enough research yet, Dr. Gittens says. Today, most of the data and articles in the literature review the effects of smoking marijuana, not eating or vaping.

It’s also worth noting that some studies have not found any difference in erectile function between cannabis users and non-users. A minority have even found a slight increase in erectile function to be associated with cannabis use.

That being said, if you’re in good health, Dr. Gittens recommends quitting smoking weed to see how it affects your erections. “I’m not a person that discourages marijuana for everyone—I’m not on that soapbox—but less is probably better for sexual function and fertility,” he says. “If you’re having fertility issues or ED, you’re fairly healthy, and this is the only thing you’re doing, you probably should stop.”

So, if you stop smoking weed, how long should you wait to see if it improves things in the bedroom? It depends on how frequently you get high. If you do so every once in a while, your body might flush out the cannabis in a few days to a week. But if you get high daily or near-daily, it can take at least a few weeks for it to leave your body. 

Dr. Houman says marijuana can contribute to ED through multiple mechanisms:

• Blood vessel constriction. THC may reduce nitric oxide availability, which is essential for erections.

• Hormonal imbalance. Long-term use has been found to suppress testosterone production, though further research is needed to confirm this.

• Neurological effects. Marijuana can dampen the brain's arousal response, making it harder to achieve an erection.

“When you have an erection, the blood vessels have to dilate (get larger), and with chronic use of marijuana, studies show that that dilation doesn’t happen as well, so you can have some issues with getting the erection,” Dr. Gittens says. 

In other words, erectile difficulties due to smoking marijuana are likely the result of the substance’s effects on blood vessels. Remember that the research on the topic isn’t totally definitive yet. Marijuana doesn’t affect everyone the same way, and the effect may depend on dosage, frequency, and other factors like how healthy your blood vessels are to start with.

Like other drugs, marijuana may interfere with some medications and treatments. Some known drug interactions of cannabis include:

• Blood thinners like warfarin

• Opioids like buprenorphine

• Antipsychotics like clozapine

So, does marijuana affect ED medications like Viagra (sildenafil) or Cialis (tadalafil)? “Potentially,” Dr. Houman says. “THC and CBD may impact the metabolism of PDE5 inhibitors like Viagra and Cialis, altering their effectiveness. Additionally, because marijuana can lower blood pressure, combining it with these medications—which also lower blood pressure—could increase the risk of dizziness or fainting.”

Whether they’re recreational, prescription, or over-the-counter, it’s important to let your healthcare provider know about your current drug regimen. This can allow them to ensure you’re using and enjoying safely before combining weed with other medications. 

ED can be frustrating, but the good news is that it’s almost always treatable. From reducing your cannabis consumption to ED medication and lifestyle changes, there are a lot of steps you can take to get harder erections.

Quit smoking

Given the links between marijuana and erectile dysfunction, quitting smoking weed is likely a good place to start. Quitting cannabis may also improve sexual function, Dr. Gittens says. “In my fertility practice, we’ll see a guy with lower sperm counts who makes the modification of reducing the amount of marijuana he smokes, or stopping it completely, and we see a drastic change in their semen analysis for the good.”

If you also smoke cigarettes, you’re going to want to kick that habit to the curb, as well.  Cigarette smoking is also linked with sexual dysfunction and ED. Those who quit smoking see their erections improve in quality by 25% after one year, according to research.

Explore prescription ED treatment

Viagra, Cialis, Stendra (avanafil), and vardenafil are oral prescription medications for ED that are largely considered effective, well-tolerated, and safe for most men to take. Side effects, when they happen, are usually mild, with headache, stuffy sinuses, indigestion, facial flushing, and temporary vision changes being the most common. Although rare, serious adverse effects can occur, including priapism (a prolonged erection lasting 4 hours or more that requires emergency medical attention).

You have other options beyond traditional ED medication, too. While they are not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), their active ingredients have been FDA-approved for ED in other forms. Ro Sparks is a sublingual (read: under-the-tongue) treatment that combines sildenafil and tadalafil (the active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis, respectively) for fast-acting effects. Daily Rise Gummies are fruit-flavored gummies containing tadalafil that are meant to be taken every day so you can be ready 24/7. 

Consider other lifestyle changes

If you want to get better erections without medication, try these healthy lifestyle changes:

• Drink less alcohol. Heavy drinking is strongly associated with ED. Limiting your intake may lower your risk of ED. 

• Exercise on a regular basis. Studies show that those who exercise more are less likely to have ED. Not to mention, regularly moving your body is known to benefit your overall mental and physical wellbeing—and getting an erection is just as much about your mind as your body.  

• Eat a balanced diet. In particular, health experts generally recommend adopting a Mediterranean diet, which includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and other ED-friendly foods.

• Get better sleep. Poor sleep has been linked to ED, so prioritizing 7–9 hours of shut-eye nightly can help prevent down-there difficulties and support healthy erections. 

• Take care of your mental health. Simply having ED can cause stress, anxiety, and depression—all of which can also cause ED in the first place. Practicing relaxation techniques, such as meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises, can all help better your mind. And, if necessary, consulting a healthcare professional, such as a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist, can further your mental wellbeing. 

When it comes to marijuana and erectile dysfunction, the relationship is complex. While some men report increased libido and sexual pleasure, the existing research suggests that chronic cannabis use may contribute to ED—although more research is still needed. If you're experiencing ED and smoke weed regularly, it may be worth experimenting with cutting back or quitting to see if it improves your sexual function. 

• Researchers are still exploring how exactly weed affects sexual function. Some studies suggest that cannabis enhances arousal, sensitivity, and relaxation. Others indicate that it can impair erectile function and male fertility. 

• Chronic marijuana use is linked to erectile dysfunction. Research shows that men who smoke weed heavily and/or regularly are more likely to have ED than non-marijuana users. This may be due to THC's effect on blood vessels in the penis.

• Marijuana may negatively affect fertility. Regular cannabis use has been associated with lower sperm count, reduced motility, and abnormal sperm morphology. While some men may still conceive without a problem, those with borderline sperm counts may have a much tougher time if they continue smoking weed.

• Weed isn’t known to interact with ED medications, but it’s possible it could interfere with their safety or efficacy. While no major adverse reactions are confirmed, men experiencing ED should consult a doctor before combining marijuana with prescription drugs, including ED medications.

• ED is usually treatable. Reducing or quitting marijuana is one way to address ED. Other lifestyle changes can also help, including improving your diet, exercising more, sleeping better, and managing your stress levels. Prescription ED medications are also effective and safe for most men.