Women with fibromyalgia and chronic pelvic pain switch to CBD – study

A new study shows women with fibromyalgia and chronic pelvic pain (CPP) are using CBD to help with their symptoms instead of pain medication.

CPP is a condition that causes pain in the pelvic region. It can vary from patient to patient ranging in severity from mild to severe. It can range from constant or intermittent sharp or dull pain. It may also move to the buttocks, lower back and thighs.

Pelvic pain is common in fibromyalgia patients although the link between the two conditions is not yet understood.

The participants were given a survey distributed by the National Fibromyalgia Association in April and May 2020. The results were published in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. 

Researchers assessed CBD use among 1,382 women with fibromyalgia who also self-reported CPP from endometriosis, vulvodynia, interstitial cystitis or urinary chronic pelvic pain (UC/UCPP) and irritable bowel syndrome.

CPP and CBD

Over one-third of the women were current CBD users with 81 per cent of this group stating the use had ‘improved their pain.’ A further 76 per cent of users said they were able to substitute CBD for other medications including opioids, NSAIDS, gabapentinoids and benzodiazapams.

The women who used CBD the most, did so for pain (96.4 per cent), sleep (48.8%) and anxiety (46.1 per cent). 

The participants also included improvements in their sleep, anxiety, depression and their overall health after starting CBD products.