There’s a lot of back and forth when discussing how cannabis affects an individual’s libido and sex drive. While some swear by ingesting some sort of THC or CBD before doing the deed, others simply can’t focus enough to reach the finish line.

A report from the New York Times highlights the discussion and gathers some needed information to help novice and seasoned cannabis users understand why marijuana may help their sex lives.

Dr. Becky K. Lynn, sexual medicine and menopause expert, and the founder of Evora Women’s Health in St. Louis, explains that she’s “had several patients come to me and say, ‘I have low libido. Can you help me? And, oh, by the way, if I use marijuana, I can orgasm, no problem.'”

It’s a given that not all women have the same reaction in terms of marijuana use and intimacy. Still, other studies point out that cannabis could especially be of use for women entering menopause, treating unwanted symptoms like hot flashes and insomnia.

You’ve probably heard of cottonmouth, a common effect of smoking weed that absorbs excess moisture in the body. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for women to experience vaginal dryness after smoking weed too, but Dr. Lynn and others have a few tips.

“Start low and go slow,” Dr. Lynn explains to the New York Times. Expesecialy if you’re relatively new to using cannabis in the bedroom, you’d ideally want a gradual increase of effects to help you focus on the moment, instead of feeling it hit all at once mid-intercourse.

Similar to how cannabis use and intercourse is a back and forth discussion with women, men also report having different effects and symptoms, which could be solved with Dr. Lynn’s “Start low and go slow” method.

The International Society for Sexual Medicine reports a handful of men attesting that cannabis improves their sexual performance, while others struggle with an inability to focus on the moment, reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and issues reaching orgasm.

Dr. Peter Grinspoon, primary-care doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital Chelsea HealthCare Center and a medical-cannabis consultant told New York Times that only a “teeny bit” of marijuana would help users experience the sexual benefits of marijuana without the adverse effects.

“At low doses, cannabis helps libido, but at high doses, it often isn’t as effective,” he explains, hinting that experimentation with low doses of cannabis could be of use to couples experiencing sexual issues.