Women Turn to Cannabis to Treat Endometriosis Symptoms

One in eight Australian women with endometriosis uses cannabis to relieve pain and other symptoms of the disease, according to a study published this Tuesday (11/12/2019) in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Canada. Researchers from the Health Research Institute at Western Sydney University gathered 484 Australian women aged 18 to 45 who have endometriosis to determine what strategies they used to manage their symptoms.

“Previous research has shown that certain compounds in cannabis known as cannabinoids have analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity. Our research sought to determine the prevalence, tolerability, and self-reported efficacy of cannabis in women with endometriosis,” explained researcher Justin Sinclair, the lead author of the study.

More than three-quarters of the women turned to cannabis, in addition to incorporating breathing techniques, yoga, and dietary changes. Medical marijuana was rated as the most effective treatment for them.

In addition to experiencing less pain, patients felt that cannabis significantly reduced symptoms of nausea and vomiting, gastrointestinal issues, and improved sleep quality while reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Reported side effects were mild and relatively rare.

Women who used cannabis also decreased the amount of medication they normally took for endometriosis symptoms by about 50%. According to Justin Sinclair, even though the results are promising, the use of cannabis is not without risks. “One in ten women in the study who used cannabis reported an undesirable effect, such as drowsiness, increased heart rate, or heightened anxiety,” he said.

According to the chief researcher of the study, Mike Amour, from the NICM Health Research Institute, Australian law currently requires that the legal use of medical cannabis follow specific and regulated pathways that limit prescriptions by this method. However, self-reported illicit use remains relatively common among Australian women with endometriosis.

“This means we do not have information on the different strains of marijuana that women were using or the substances that could be associated with them, as they were obtained from illicit sources, which do not guarantee quality.”

Chronic Condition
Endometriosis is a chronic condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus is found outside the organ. This often causes pelvic pain and fatigue. Women report significant negative impacts on various aspects of life, including work, friendships, and sexual relationships.

In Australia, about one in nine women born between 1973 and 1978 was diagnosed with endometriosis between the ages of 40 and 44. The condition can cost up to $9.7 billion in Australia each year, primarily due to productivity losses.

In addition to surgery, current treatments for endometriosis include the use of oral contraceptives or progestins and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which do not always provide adequate pain control or have side effects that can be difficult for some women to tolerate.

Source: Metropoles