Menstrual cramps(dysmenorrhea) can cause debilitating pain and can be associated with bloating, fatigue, and a myriad of other symptoms that can make your time of the month, the worst time of the month.
An article from the National Library of Medicine reported that over 80% of women experience pain associated with menstruation at some point during their life.
While most of these women were lucky enough to experience the milder side of period cramping and other associated symptoms, some women have suffered through immense pain, unrelieved by traditional over-the-counter (OTC) menstrual relief products.
Sometimes, the severity of the period symptoms can be exacerbated by underlying issues like passing clots, uterine fibroids, or endometriosis. Other times, Aunt Flo has no other problems but still forces you to curl up with a hot water bottle and ibuprofen.
Many women have begun to explore the role that cannabis can play in relief of their menstrual pain. The influx of newer topical cannabinoid formulations specifically developed to target women’s issues has driven further curiosity. Some of these products are designed for vaginal application, which women have reported positive results from.
So why have cannabis products displayed such efficacy in the treatment of menstrual symptoms? The primary endocannabinoid responsible is called anandamide. In studies, anandamide and other endocannabinoids have been found at high concentrations in tissues throughout the female reproductive system. This means that the cannabis molecules that bind to receptors within our bodies, are able to partially mediate the inflammatory response directly at the source. This, in addition to the relaxing properties of cannabis that many users experience, is why many humans-with-uteruses opt to treat their menstrual symptoms with cannabis products.
That being said, we always like to look at both sides of the argument for or against the use of cannabis. One that has been coming up a lot more frequently is the impact of chronic marijuana use on the developing female reproductive system. Even small doses of THC have resulted in ovulatory dysfunction in recent animal studies and since many people that consume cannabis are of reproductive age this area will most likely get a lot more attention in the coming years.
As always, thank you for reading. Check out the links in the references for source material and make sure to consult a physician prior to incorporating cannabis into your lifestyle. Check out our other posts here! 🙂
References
One response to “Cannabis and Menstrual Pains”
Great post, Cheyenne!
THC has helped me during many moments of excruciating menstrual cramps. Definitely eases the pain & helps me to relax WAY more efficiently than acetaminophen or other OTCs.