HEMPEARTH – MDMA is a popular substance for its ability to produce feelings of energy, empathy, and trust towards others. It has been found in some studies that men have a higher tolerance than women do. This means that not only does MDMA affect women’s bodies differently from men’s, but also their brains are more vulnerable to the effects of it.
What Is MDMA
MDMA stands for methylenedioxy-methylamphetamine. Its chemical name is N-methyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)propan-2-amine.
It’s part of a wider group of chemicals called phenethylamines, known for their hallucinogenic and stimulant effects. The drugs methamphetamine and cathinone (bath salts) are also part of this group.
MDMA acts by increasing the levels of three major brain chemicals:
- Dopamine: Dopamine helps nerve cells send signals to one another and makes you feel good or happy when it’s released.
- Norepinephrine: Norepinephrine transmits nerve signals and helps to regulate functions, such as arousal, stress reactions, attention, and cognitive function.
- Serotonin: Serotonin carries nerve signals throughout your body. It’s involved in producing feelings of happiness, optimism, and joy.
The Effects of Ecstasy on Men vs. Women
Taking it results in euphoria, mood boosting, and empathy when taken because it mainly makes your brain release serotonin or 5-HT. Serotonin plays a crucial role when it comes to dealing with anxiety or mood disorders.
Studies on the Effects of MDMA on Sex or Gender
According to three studies composed of 74 subjects—20 women and 54 men—MDMA impacts women far more per kilogram relative to weight compared to men.
In these studies, the researchers administered oral doses of MDMA ranging from 70 to 150 milligrams (1.35 to 1.8 milligrams per kilogram).
They utilized double-blind placebo-controlled conditions to cover their bases and to ensure the effects rooted from the MDMA itself. They then assessed the subjective peak changes using standardized psychometric rating scales. They also used physiological measures such as heart rate, blood pressure, and peripheral body temperature.
- The Effects of MDMA on Both Sexes: On both sexes , MDMA causes you to become more energetic, empathetic for others, and euphoric due to increased amounts of serotonin in your brain. You can also have lowered inhibitions or suffer from perceptual changes at higher doses. MDMA also causes psychoactive effects and thought disturbances that run in contrast with its calmness and relaxation effects. It affects mood or anxiety disorders .
- The Effects of MDMA on Men: All of the effects listed above that affect both sexes also affects men across the board. When men take the designer drug, they can expect extra simulation of their senses that could cause hallucinations. Men also take the party substance to increase their libido and enjoy its effects on their inhibitions. With that said, higher increases in blood pressure happen more often in men than in women.
- The Effects of Ecstasy on Women: Women share many of the same MDMA effects as with men as cited above. However, certain effects end up stronger in women, particularly perceptual changes, psychoactive effects, thought disturbances, and fear of loss of body control.
Results on Ecstasy’s Effects on the Sexes
The study shows that MDMA’s psychoactive effects ended up more intense in women compared to men.
The studies established a clear correlation between MDMA dosage and the intensity of such perceptual changes in women. Otherwise, they shared the same experiences when it came to MDMA effects.
The impact of MDMA is gendered.
Even with equal ecstasy doses per kilogram of body weight, the impact on women compared to men consistently showed increased susceptibility to 5-HT release.
The results of the study illustrates that even with height and body weight variables taken into account, increasing doses of MDMA produces much more intense hallucinogenic or hallucinatory effects on perception in both sexes, particularly women.
How Ecstasy Affects the Body of Both Sexes
MDMA effects vary from individual to individual depending on factors such as:
- The amount or strength of the dose
- How you individually react to the substance
- Your state of mind and physical makeup
- Whether it’s been mixed with other substances
- When you first use MDMA vs. regular users
- Gender (blood pressure for men and perceptual changes for women)
How Long It Takes for MDMA to Take Effect
This empathogen has taken the party scene by storm due to the fact that it also acts as a stimulant. To be more specific, it quickens the central nervous system’s inner workings. You can usually feel the effects of ecstasy about 20 minutes to 60 minutes after taking it. This can last for 3 to 4 hours.
The comedown or you returning to normal as MDMA wears off could even last 1 to 2 days or up to 7 days.
At higher doses, it alters your perception of reality altogether. Thus, you can say it offers hallucinogenic properties as well.
Therapeutic uses of MDMA
MDMA has been suggested as a treatment for:
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- disordered eating
- alcohol addiction and dependency
- anxiety in people with a terminal illness
- social anxiety in autistic adults
- co-occurring PTSD and opioid dependency
How is MDMA Used or Taken?
You can swallow MDMA in pill or tablet form or snort it in powder form. The hallucinogenic stimulant makes you experience an “ecstatic” high characterized by a rush of good feelings or vibes. Your feelings feel more intense as well when under the influence of MDMA . This intensity happens regardless of whether you’re feeling negative or positive moods or emotions. The effects of the substance last up to 6 hours with lingering side effects of up to 2 days.
Final Thoughts
The effects of MDMA on men root more on the greater increase in blood pressure when compared to women.
Women, on the other hand, gain stronger effects when they take the substance , particularly when it comes to perceptual changes and psychoactive effects.
The dosage of MDMA directly affected the intensity of these particular perceptual and psychoactive effects.
Across the board though, both genders experienced euphoria, increased energy, serotonin release, heightened senses, and empathy for others.
