Cannabis linked to ‘substantial improvements’ in endometriosis symptoms

A new study, based on the experiences of endometriosis patients in Europe, has found cannabis to have a significant impact on wellbeing and quality of life, leading to ‘substantial improvements’ in symptoms.

Researchers surveyed over 900 patients based in Germany, Switzerland and Austria about their use of self-management strategies for living with endometriosis. 

Over three quarters of patients reported trying self-management strategies in the past six months to better cope with symptoms, with cannabis found to be the ‘most effective’. 

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition in which cells similar to those in the lining of the uterus are found elsewhere in the body. Alongside debilitating pain during periods and sex, it can affect bowel movements, urination, bloating, nausea, fatigue, and sometimes depression, anxiety, and infertility.

Previous research has highlighted the high prevalence of medicinal cannabis use among patients with endometriosis in Australia, New Zealand and Canada where over half were reported to use cannabis for symptom management.

Recent studies have also shown that the endocannabinoid system could play a role in the pathology of the condition itself, and therefore cannabinoids may have potential as a new treatment option. 

Cannabis and endometriosis: insights from Europe

In one of the first studies to examine this among endometriosis patients in Europe, 17% of survey respondents reported using cannabis to manage their endometriosis-related symptoms in recent months.

The frequency and the method of cannabis use varied greatly among patients, with smoking the most common method of consumption and participants spending an average of 50 Euros per month.

The symptoms for which cannabis was most effective at providing relief were sleep (91%), menstrual pain (90%), and non-cyclical pelvic pain (80%). Nearly 90% of respondents were able to use cannabis to reduce the amount of pain medication needed, with nearly half of them achieving a strong reduction of greater than 50%. However, cannabis was reported to be less effective in reducing pain during sexual intercourse, bowel movements, and urination.

According to the authors, cannabis also showed potential in alleviating psychological symptoms, with three-quarters of women with anxiety or depression/depressed mood experiencing improvement. 

Demand for new treatment options

The researchers also identified high levels of interest in cannabis-based products among all patients. Even among those who had not recently used cannabis, more than 80% expressed interest in using a CBD-based product to treat endometriosis-related symptoms, while more than 60% were open to using THC. These percentages increased even further  (87% for CBD and 70% for THC) when the products were prescribed by a doctor. 

“The use of Cannabis had a significant impact on the overall well-being and quality of life of women with endometriosis,” the authors say.

“Although cannabis was used comparatively infrequently, it was rated the most effective of all self-management strategies.”

However, they also highlight that access to medical cannabis remains a barrier for patients and more research is needed to support wider prescribing.

“More research is required to determine the best route of administration, dosage, THC/CBD ratio, potential side effects, and long-term effects of cannabis use. This will help provide official recommendations to patients and healthcare providers,” they conclude.

“The study indicates that there is a significant interest and demand for additional therapeutic options, and cannabis can potentially become an important part of a multimodal therapy approach for treating endometriosis.”