Gender Differences in Psychedelic Experiences

Did you know that before 1993, many pharmaceutical drug trials in the United States and Europe did not include women? Women’s hormonal fluctuations were seen as too difficult to work around, while men’s bodies were viewed as the “standard.” 

As a result, modern medicine has a serious lack of knowledge about women’s health. Women are still frequently underrepresented in studies, including – more recently – psychedelic studies. 

And it’s not just clinical trials, either. Women have been found to recreationally consume psychedelics at lower rates than men, with a few possible reasons as to why this is. Some believe that it’s due to societal pressures on women to be more reserved and well-behaved, while men are encouraged to take risks and push boundaries. Others cite women’s responsibilities in childcare and household maintenance, as well as stricter standards to adhere to as mothers or career women. 

As the psychedelic renaissance takes off and psychedelic-assisted therapy becomes more widespread, these biases may continue to trickle down and subtly discourage women or transgender people from seeking out such experiences for themselves. 

A 2019 article by Betty Aldworth, published by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), states:

The…2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows that fewer than 12% of women have ever used hallucinogens, whereas nearly 20% of men have. Early research on the use of psychedelics to treat trauma has focused primarily on combat veterans, a vast majority of whom are men. Without careful attention paid to make psychedelic therapy safe and inviting for women and people who are genderqueer or transgender, norms which make it safer for cisgendered men to participate in such healing will only intensify.

Fortunately, there are scientists, psychologists, and other researchers who are increasingly dedicated to making psychedelics accessible and helpful to people across the entire gender spectrum. And the first step to creating a more inclusive psychedelic environment? Understanding how, exactly, psychedelics affect all of us. 

(Author’s note: Although we acknowledge the validity of various gender identities on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, the majority of studies to date examining biological responses to psychedelics have been performed on cisgender individuals.)

Psychedelics act on everyone uniquely, with only some of these effects attributed to gender. A wide variety of mental, physical, and societal biases can all influence the way someone handles a substance like LSD or psilocybin. 

As such, it’s important to remember that although biological sex can impact your psychedelic experience, it’s just one of many crucial factors. Before tripping, it’s recommended to be aware of your own mental state, your physical set and setting, and what you would like to get out of your trip by the time it’s over. 

So, what causes biological men and women to experience psychedelics differently? It boils down to a few key things, such as hormones, metabolism, mental health, and cultural or spiritual beliefs. All of these add up to shape every person’s unique response to psychedelics.

Hormonal Influences 

One of the most important factors when looking at men vs. women is hormones. Women’s hormones fluctuate significantly during the 28-day cycle, whereas testosterone in men tends to stay fairly stable. As a result, women are more likely to be extra sensitive to psychedelics during the luteal and menstruation phases. While studies on the specifics of these hormonal influences are still lacking, early research has shown that estrogen and progesterone fluctuations can affect how the brain’s neurotransmitters respond to psychedelics.

In an interview with Pharmacy Times, Jennifer Chesak (author of The Psilocybin Handbook for Women: How Magic Mushrooms, Psychedelic Therapy, and Microdosing Can Benefit Your Mental, Physical, and Spiritual Health) spoke on how mushrooms can impact women, saying: 

We know that estrogen can affect binding at the serotonin receptor sites. We need more research on the trajectory of the menstrual cycle and when in the cycle to use psilocybin. It seems like we know that where we are in our cycles, and the level of estrogen in our body may matter in terms of if we're doing a deeper journey, or it may matter for microdosing as well.

Chesak also notes that indigenous experts in psilocybin recommend that women use psychedelics during ovulation for the best results. Men, on the other hand, will likely not notice any major changes in effects, regardless of when they decide to take the trip. 

Psychological Factors 

Societal influences like gender norms, sexism, and cultural traditions affect men and women deeply across the world and can manifest in different emotional responses during psychedelic experiences.

In many cultures, men are expected to be more stoic, emotionally closed off, and “tougher” than women. They are also significantly less likely to seek help with mental health issues or trauma. Women, however, are statistically more likely to struggle with anxiety, depression, or PTSD, and they have better odds of seeking treatment for these problems. 

As interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy grows, these differences may become more prominent in treatment facilities. Not only do men consume more psychedelics than women (as we touched on earlier), but they often take them for different reasons. 

In 2021, Vice magazine took a look at a few studies examining why men and women use psychedelics like MDMA, LSD, mushrooms, and ketamine. They found that men often use them to self-treat depression, and women turn to them in an effort to reconcile with past trauma. Men are also slightly more likely to use psychedelics to treat substance abuse issues. 

Carly Barton, a plant medicine advocate, told Vice:

With men, it often seems that the reconnection to emotional responses is the biggest shift – allowing emotions that maybe the majority of women already have a connection to. The response from men is often, ‘I can let myself feel,’ whereas with women it’s often, ‘I feel much more comfortable processing my trauma.’

There are a few more subtle differences noted in studies – women are more likely to experience “spiritual” or “mystical” moments while tripping, and men are more inclined to approach these experiences from a logical perspective. Men report more visuals, and women report more emotional insights. 

Naturally, these differences are not absolutes. People of any gender can – and do – take psychedelics for an infinite variety of deeply personal reasons. These gender variances can provide helpful guidelines to people seeking out healing through trips or those who provide psychedelic-assisted therapy, but they are not a one-size-fits-all solution. 

As psychedelic research continues to move from the underground into healthcare and mainstream conversations, we need to be careful not to carry old gender norms and expectations along with it. Gender certainly can influence the way people experience psychedelics, but it’s only one piece of a much larger puzzle. Individual blends of body chemistry, mental state, life experiences, and your physical environment shape every trip.

If we want to create truly inclusive and healing psychedelic spaces, we need to keep pushing for more research that takes gender into account. Although it’s not the end-all be-all, ignoring the role that gender can play during a trip does a disservice to people from every walk of life. 

Whether someone is looking for relief from trauma, seeking deeper insight into their emotions, or trying to find a sense of connection to others, psychedelics can be a powerful tool. However, this is only possible if everyone has the same opportunities for self-healing. 

Understanding these gender differences doesn’t mean drawing hard lines between men and women. Instead, it’s about making space for everyone’s story and honoring the many ways that psychedelic healing can look and feel.

Emily is one of our community bloggers here at Chemical Collective. If you’re interested in joining our blogging team and getting paid to write about subjects you’re passionate about, please reach out to Sam via email at [email protected]