Endometriosis is a painful, chronic inflammatory disease associated with the growth of uterine cells.

A new study on the use of medical marijuana to treat endometriosis recently found that medical marijuana has been rated by many female patients as ‘the most effective self-management strategy, significantly reducing the intensity of symptoms’.

The study authors noted, ‘The results suggest that medical marijuana has become a popular self-management method for the treatment of endometriosis-related symptoms and can significantly improve symptoms.’

The study authors noted, ‘The results suggest that medical marijuana has become a popular self-management method for the treatment of endometriosis-related symptoms and can significantly improve symptoms.’

The study, published this month in the journal Gynaecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, analysed the findings of 912 adult endometriosis patients from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.Of those patients, 114 (17 per cent) reported using medical marijuana to help manage the disease, a chronic inflammatory disorder associated with the growth of uterine cells that can cause a range of painful symptoms that can be excruciating.

The results of the study show that endometriosis affects between 2 and 20 per cent of women of childbearing age. Respondents indicated that it took them about nine years to get a diagnosis.

Most medical marijuana users reported improvements in pain and other symptoms. Although some survey respondents reported increased fatigue from cannabis use, other side effects were almost negligible.

The German findings showed that "the most significant improvements were seen in sleep (91 per cent), menstrual pain (90 per cent) and non-cyclical pain (80 per cent). Apart from increased fatigue (17 per cent), there were very few side effects (≤5 per cent)."

"Also, about 90% of the participants were able to reduce the amount of pain medication."

"In addition, about 90% of the participants reported that their painkiller intake was significantly reduced after using medical marijuana."

The study reports, "Medical marijuana not only relieves pain, but also significantly improves symptoms, and most users are able to reduce their intake of painkillers. Adverse effects were rare. However, more research is still needed to determine the optimal route of administration, dosage, THC/CBD ratio, potential side effects, and long-term effects of cannabis use."

"Research has shown that there is strong patient interest and demand for additional treatment options and that medical cannabis has the potential to be an important part of a multimodal treatment approach for endometriosis."

It is worth noting that medical marijuana users may also have tried different painkillers in the past. Overall, the findings suggest that people who use medical marijuana may have experienced more severe pain and less effective treatment with painkillers.

Some patients also reported that fatigue, the main side effect of medical marijuana use, actually provided some benefits, although this was felt differently by different groups.

The report states, "Regarding the side effects of cannabis, some people found the fatigue to be a pleasant sensation, with fewer problems sleeping in the evening and at night. For others, however, this fatigue was a clear disadvantage, mainly limiting the use of cannabis in the morning."

The study was carried out by a four-person research team from the Centre for Gynecology and Surgical Oncology at the Charité Endometriosis Research Centre in Berlin, Germany.

However, doctors noted that existing treatment options "do not always provide adequate pain relief and often cause adverse side effects".

The research team noted that limited prior research has led people to believe that medical marijuana may not be particularly effective, but "a cross-sectional survey of endometriosis patients from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States showed that self-management strategies were common among these patients, and that medical marijuana products were one of the most effective medications for pain reduction. "

The study says, "We therefore aimed to determine for the first time the prevalence of medical cannabis use, the validity of self-assessments, and possible drug reductions in German-speaking countries."

The researchers said that based on their findings, further research is needed to elucidate how medical cannabis helps treat endometriosis, which would better facilitate "official recommendations to patients and healthcare providers."

Regarding the need for further research, one of the team's findings was that "experiences associated with the psychological effects of medical marijuana vary widely" - something that may be exacerbated by existing legal and social barriers to medical marijuana use.

The study noted, ‘While some patients reported "reduced anxiety/despair" and improved mental health, some found these conditions worsened. However, almost all responses focused on structural problems: medical marijuana is difficult to obtain, physicians know little or nothing about it, Medicare payments are time-consuming and partially unsuccessful, dosage varies widely, and there are few alternatives in terms of methods of administration.’

"In addition, there are concerns about discrimination in the workplace and personal environment, impaired driving ability, and possible dependency."

In fact, the finding that medical marijuana may help manage endometriosis symptoms is ‘very consistent’ with the findings of past studies, such as one conducted in Australia that surveyed 484 people.

The authors of the new Australian study noted that ‘the proportions using self-management strategies were similar, but the proportion of medical marijuana users in our study was slightly higher at (13 per cent versus 17 per cent).’ The team also added that Canada, which legalised marijuana across the country in 2018, had ‘a 54 per cent rate of medical marijuana use among endometriosis patients.’

The study states, ‘Various different research groups have demonstrated the positive efficacy of cannabinoids in patients with endometriosis. However, in order to validate these findings, clinical trials with well-defined dosages, forms of application and frequency are needed. It is important to focus not only on symptom improvement but also on side effects.

As the majority of people with endometriosis are young women of childbearing age, it is crucial to thoroughly investigate and study other possible consequences, such as the development or exacerbation of psychiatric system disorders or the effects on the embryo in pregnancy.’

Another study published earlier this year found that CBD appeared to alleviate symptoms associated with menstruation, such as irritability, irritability, anxiety, and stress, when compared to baseline metrics for participants. 

And another early study similarly claims that CBD-infused tampons are a ‘promising option’ for treating period pain.

Meanwhile, several states in the US are considering including female orgasmic disorder (FOD) as one of the conditions that can be treated with medical marijuana, which proponents say is a response to a growing body of scientific research that suggests that medical marijuana can increase the frequency, ease, and satisfaction of orgasms in women with FOD.

A study published in the journal Sexual Medicine 2020 found that women who used marijuana more often had more enjoyable sex. Additionally, the authors of a study in the Journal of Cannabis Research said cannabis ‘has the potential to narrow the orgasm inequality gap between men and women.’