Women and MDMA: particularities of gender and sex.
Fabio Carezzato, Ilana Falcão de Arruda, Caio Petrus Monteiro Figueiredo, João Maurício Castaldelli-Maia
International Review of Psychiatry 2023 DOI: 10.1080/09540261.2023.2250867 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Addiction MDMA |
| Keywords | 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine Gender Women |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | Gender and sex significantly influence patterns of MDMA use, subjective effects, and health risks, with women experiencing greater adverse effects and unique vulnerabilities, while MDMA-assisted psychotherapy shows promise for PTSD in female subgroups. |
Abstract
This comprehensive review delves into the intricate interplay between gender/sex and MDMA use, drawing upon recent evidence. It explores how girls, as a means of coping with negative emotions, often resort to drug use, while boys primarily initiate drug use due to peer pressure or sensation-seeking tendencies. Women, frequently having endured traumatic life events, may turn to MDMA as a form of self-medication. Notably, women face an elevated risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections due to their altered mental states and diminished condom use during MDMA consumption. Additionally, females exhibit heightened sensitivity to the subjective effects of MDMA, consistently reporting heightened anxiety, adverse effects, and negative side effects. While women may have a higher susceptibility to hyponatremia, intriguingly, they appear to be less vulnerable to MDMA-induced hyperthermia. Although limited, available data suggest that prenatal MDMA exposure could lead to motor delays in infants, necessitating further research to unravel the potential cognitive effects. Furthermore, MDMA-assisted psychotherapy holds immense promise for addressing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among female subgroups. These pronounced gender and sex disparities in MDMA use and its effects underscore the pressing need for additional research to develop tailored, effective, and safe treatment approaches that account for these fundamental factors.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on MDMA for addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neuropharmacology of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS): Focus on the Rewarding and Reinforcing Properties of Cannabimimetics and Amphetamine-Like Stimulants | 2016 | Review | |
| Methamphetamine and MDMA (Ecstasy) Neurotoxicity: 'of Mice and Men' | 2004 | Review | |
| Use and abuse of dissociative and psychedelic drugs in adolescence Adolescent humans and preclinical animal models | 2021 | Review | |
| Can MDMA Play a Role in the Treatment of Substance Abuse? | 2013 | Review | |
| Neuroimaging in Human MDMA (Ecstasy) Users | 2008 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Psychedelics for substance use disorders: are women being addressed? A scoping review International Journal of Drug Policy September 2, 2025
- Prevalence and Correlates of Lifetime Ecstasy/MDMA Use Among Asian American and Pacific Islander Adult Populations in the United States, 2015–2020 Journal of Psychoactive Drugs March 3, 2025
- Strong increase in the number of intoxications involving psychoactive drugs among adolescents reported to the Dutch Poisons Information Center from 2014-2023. International Journal of Drug Policy August 1, 2025
- Preparations for rave music parties and consequences for attendees who consume psychedelic drugs. Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment May 1, 2025
Cites 15
- MDMA enhances emotional empathy and prosocial behavior Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience October 4, 2013
- Safety pharmacology of acute MDMA administration in healthy subjects Journal of Psychopharmacology February 21, 2017
- MDMA and Sexual Behavior: Ecstasy Users' Perceptions About Sexuality and Sexual Risk Substance Use & Misuse 2005
- Sex Differences in the Effects of MDMA (Ecstasy) on Plasma Copeptin in Healthy Subjects The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism June 30, 2011
- MDMA effects consistent across laboratories Psychopharmacology March 15, 2014
and 10 more in the library