How cannabis can help with dysmenorrhea

Millions are suffering, but thanks to science and a simple plant, there could be a solution. Here's how cannabis can help with dysmenorrhea.

It's an uncomfortable topic to discuss, but the painful truth is that most women will suffer from it at some point and finding relief is invaluable. Around 80% of women suffer from period pain at some point in their lives. Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for pain or discomfort during menstruation. It is a common gynecological problem, but the pain can range from dull cramps to indescribable agony. Here's how cannabis can help with dysmenorrhea.

Medical cannabis has emerged as a potential treatment option for dysmenorrhea, offering hope for tens of millions of women suffering from menstrual cramps. Current medical treatment options primarily consist of over-the-counter pain medications and hormonal contraceptives. The effectiveness of these treatments varies widely.

The endocannabinoid system plays a role in uterine function and pain perception. The cannabinoid receptors CB1R and CB2R as well as TRPV receptors have been identified in human myometrial tissue. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a major component of cannabis, may act as a cannabinoid agonist, potentially triggering myometrial relaxation and relieving menstrual cramps.

Photo by Esther Kelleter/Getty

Potential benefits of cannabis for dysmenorrhea include pain relief, improved sleep quality, and reduced reliance on pharmaceutical painkillers. While research specifically on cannabis for dysmenorrhea is increasing, studies on chronic pain are providing some insights:

• A systematic review of 18 randomized controlled trials found that synthetic cannabis products with a high THC-to-CBD ratio can provide moderate improvement in pain severity.
• A meta-analysis of 32 studies showed that medical cannabis or cannabinoids led to small to very small improvements in pain relief, exercise performance, and sleep quality in patients with chronic pain.

There is great interest in using cannabis to treat gynecological pain:

• A survey found that 61.2% of women who had never used cannabis and 90.0% of those who had were willing to try it for gynecological pain.
• Following cannabis legalization in Canada, current cannabis use increased from 13.3% to 21.5% among women with self-reported moderate to severe pelvic pain.

With the American Medical Association, American College of Physicians, and even AARP recognizing the medical benefits of cannabis, it is critical that more research be funded. Millions of women may experience unnecessary pain due to untreated dysmenorrhea.