Sex on LSD? Making Love with Psychedelics

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a potent psychedelic that can cause hallucinations, sensory enhancement and an altered state of consciousness. As humans have a habit of mixing drugs with sex, it comes as no surprise that we've been experimenting sex on LSD for decades.

The summer of love

On the brisk morning of January 14, 1967, hundreds of long-haired, open-minded "hippies" gathered for the Human Be-In music festival. LSD was distributed among the crowd as speakers such as Timothy Leary encouraged festival-goers to "Turn on, tune in, [and] drop out." The festival spearheaded the so-called Summer of Love, a movement that included about 100,000 people gathered in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco to experiment with psychedelics and protest the Vietnam War, among other things.

Leary, who seven years earlier had founded the Harvard Psilocybin Project with Richard Alpert (who later became spiritual leader Ram Dass), was convinced of LSD's sexual potential. In a Playboy interview, Leary claimed LSD was "the most powerful aphrodisiac ever discovered by man" and could give women "several hundred orgasms."

What happens to your penis on LSD?

Jordan Tishler, M.D., an instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, disagrees with Leary's claims of LSD's aphrodisiac powers.

"LSD in low doses can increase perception, but at typical and higher doses, it tends to prompt internal journeying, which is not ideal for sexual encounters," Tishler said. Although the come-up stage might prove to be a turn on, trying to have sex when you're on acid could be next to impossible.

"I couldn't get off," user Destiny Pivonka said in a Facebook group. "It was too intense, and I couldn't look at his face without laughing my ass off."

Many others in the group stated sex was overwhelming on acid, especially during the "peak," or most intense, part of the trip.

Tishler explained that LSD interacts with the GABA pathways and decreases activity in the prefrontal cortex, where the sense of self lives. While he doesn't believe there's a direct cause-and-effect relationship between LSD and the penis, he said the mental effects are significant.

It's also important to get sexual consent from your partner before you take LSD or any psychedelic, as minds and judgment can be altered under the influence of the drug.

"Aside from consent issues, for many, sex is a means of enhancing the connection with another individual, so chemically induced introspection may not be ideal," Tishler said.

How does LSD affect your brain?

A 2019 study from the University Hospital for Psychiatry in Zurich indicated LSD reduced communication between the brain regions responsible for planning and decision-making. Additionally, it reported an increased connection between the brain networks associated with sensory functions and awareness.

"LSD works on the serotonergic system, which is connected to pleasure," said Emma Hewitt, sex educator and producer of The Electric Rodeo podcast. "Every sense is going to feel amplified. Touch, taste, sight—everything will feel more intense. For many, this can be a way to have deeply connected sex with a partner.

"LSD lowers your inhibitions and changes how you see reality," Hewitt added. "This makes it easier for some couples to act out their fantasies and explore different sexual roles."

At the least, psychedelics could help you and your partner try new things in the bedroom. However—and this can't be stressed strongly enough—LSD is illegal in the United States.

Is sex on LSD a good idea?

If you and your partner view sex as a way to enhance an emotional connection, psychedelics could magnify that connection, but they could also diminish it. Keep in mind: While two or three people like Pivonka didn't have a good experience with sex on acid, more than 70 other people in the same Facebook group reported an overwhelmingly positive takeaway.

"It's both intense and soft. Primal and intimate. It's hard to describe, but I would definitely recommend it if you want to feel closer to your partner," Sarrie Davis commented.

Many stated that having this "amazing" experience comes with a caveat: Make sure you're with someone you absolutely trust. Another Facebook group member, Anna Rose, explained, "Ego death can happen when you are in a major state of euphoria, and you need a partner who understands and can help you if that happens." "Ego death" is defined as a complete loss of subjective self-identity.

Hewitt doesn't recommend having sex on LSD early on in a relationship or with someone you've just met.

"[LSD] is an unpredictable drug and there is always the risk of a bad trip," she said. "It's not uncommon to find yourself staring at the ceiling together for 30 minutes before either of you realizes that the sex has stopped."

The bottom line about sex on LSD

Sex on acid is far from a light undertaking, as experiences range from incredibly overwhelming to eye-opening and intimate. As you start to hallucinate and your senses heighten, you'll want to make sure you're with someone you trust. It's also important to get sexual consent from your partner before you take LSD or any psychedelic, as minds and judgment can be altered under the influence of the drug.

The most important thing is to discuss boundaries beforehand, go into the experience with an open mind and no expectations, and make sure you're with someone who makes you feel safe.

Giddy notice: The use of lysergic acid diethylamide, more commonly known as LSD, for recreational purposes is illegal in the United States, as described in the Controlled Substances Act and enforced by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Our medical experts tell us that the recreational use of LSD is not only illegal but also extremely detrimental to your mind and body. Giddy in no way promotes or endorses the use of drugs (party drugs, illegal and/or legal drugs) for any illegal or illicit purposes.