Endometriosis, a condition causing chronic pelvic pain and menstrual issues, remains a major challenge for many women. A study explored how cannabis is being used for relief.

Cannabis shows effectiveness in alleviating pain for women with endometriosis. Illustration by the author.

The study “A Dose of Relief?” looks at how people with endometriosis use cannabis. They surveyed 889 participants from 28 countries. Most had been using cannabis for around 4.4 years. The study aimed to see what forms they use, how well they work and why they choose one over another .

Dried cannabis flower (47%) tops the list, with almost half of the participants using it. Oils (31 %) come next, but they don’t seem quite as strong and linger longer. Inhaled forms: smoked and vaped are reported to work faster, provide relief more immediately and help alleviate chronic pelvic pain, menstrual cramps, sleep troubles and nausea.

Most Participants obtain cannabis through illicit channels, which highlights a need for accessibility and a regulated medical option. Overall, the study indicates that cannabis is widely used among individuals with endometriosis for symptom management, but the authors stress the need for clinical trials to better understand its efficacy and safety .

Reference:
Klotz, L., Dwyer, M., Haines, R., Arora, S., & Vashisht, R. (2023 ). A dose of relief? Self-reported effectiveness of cannabis for endometriosis. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publ