Cannabis in Gynecology: Can It Help With PMS, PCOS and Pelvic Pain?

In gynecology, medical cannabis is being explored mainly for pain: menstrual cramps, endometriosis, vulvodynia and pelvic pain, plus symptoms of PMS and menopause. Research is still early, but some studies and plenty of patient reports point to real relief, especially where standard treatments fall short. It's also a plant that cultures have used for centuries to ease pain and treat all kinds of conditions, and it's getting new attention for what it could do for women's health.

From easing period pain and managing endometriosis to treating vulvodynia and menopause symptoms, cannabis offers an interesting alternative to conventional treatments.

What is cannabis oil used for in gynecology?

Modern medicine has watched medical cannabis branch out in a lot of therapeutic directions. From chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and glaucoma to epilepsy, HIV and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), cannabis has shown real promise as a tool.

More recently, deeper research into CBD and its uses has shown encouraging results for conditions in women's reproductive health, especially in cases where conventional medicine isn't working.

The ancient history of cannabis for women's reproductive health

Ancient civilizations were well aware of cannabis's effects and its potential to ease problems of the female reproductive system. The plant was used to treat menstrual disorders, reduce pain and ease childbirth, and even for uterine tumors and gonorrhea.

Hemp oils were applied topically to dull the pain of labor, and cannabis flowers were burned so the therapeutic smoke could be inhaled. These practices show up across many cultures, from China to the Sumerians and Egyptians, and later in the Middle East and the Arab world.

In early medieval Europe, cannabis stayed in the medicine cabinet, with uses expanding to swollen, painful breasts and uterine discomfort.

Cannabis in traditional herbal medicine

Cannabis was widely used in ancient herbal medicine, often mixed with other herbs or with non-herbal ingredients like honey to get the effect people were after.

Ancient cultures valued cannabis for conditions of the female reproductive system. They couldn't explain how it worked, but they observed benefits for uterine disorders, menopause and even preventing miscarriage.

How cannabis made its way into modern gynecology

In the 18th and 19th centuries, medicine took big steps forward. Doctors, with a better grasp of anatomy, started investigating and describing in more detail how cannabis could help with dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps), menorrhagia (heavy periods) and severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

Clinical trials and research on cannabis for female reproductive conditions

With growing scientific and pharmaceutical interest in what cannabis can do and how it works, preclinical and clinical trials have been run to measure and compare treatment results. These studies aim to figure out how far cannabis products can be trusted to help with conditions of the female reproductive system, raising awareness and improving therapy along the way.

Can CBD help with endometriosis?

Gynecological treatments often don't deliver the effect patients need, come with side effects or only bring short-lived relief. Research suggests cannabis may be a promising option here, especially for endometriosis.

Lab studies suggest CBD may not only help with symptoms like pelvic pain but also inhibit decidualization of endometrial stromal cells, a key process in the uterine lining. Since roughly 10% of women of reproductive age have endometriosis, findings like this could matter for around 200 million women worldwide.

How cannabis is being used in gynecology today

Cannabis is also being used on a small scale for other painful conditions, like chronic pelvic pain and menopause symptoms. Still, these are only early attempts to replicate what ancient cultures did without proper scientific and pharmaceutical backing.

We're just at the start of cannabis's gynecological applications, and there's a lot of research and clinical trials still to come. Step by step, it's starting to make an effective, responsible difference in women's health around the world.

Cannabis and gynecological health: a whole-person approach

Silvina Vulcano: an expert in cannabis and gynecological health

Silvina Vulcano is a respected Argentine OB-GYN who graduated from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA). With training in epidemiology, health management and policy, and patient safety, she has devoted her career to studying cannabis use in women and people who menstruate.

She holds a 2021 diploma in Cannabis and Its Medicinal Uses from Arturo Jauretche National University and completed the postgraduate program “A Comprehensive Approach to the Cannabis Plant for Health” at the National University of Rosario (UNR), both in Argentina.

She's the specialist that Argentina's College of Physicians turned to for training fellow doctors in the therapeutic use of cannabis. In Vulcano's words, “cannabis offers answers not only to specific conditions but also to everyday situations of discomfort and disability.”

Endometriosis and cannabis: pain relief

Endometriosis, which affects 1 in 10 women and people who menstruate, happens when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. It can cause intense pain through nociceptive, inflammatory and neuropathic mechanisms.

Vulcano explains that the endocannabinoid system, which includes molecules like anandamide and 2-AG, has receptors in the heart, spleen, endocrine glands and reproductive organs, which is why cannabis-derived products may help regulate endometriosis pain. Researchers are still looking at whether a dysregulated endocannabinoid system could be linked to higher rates of the condition.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and cannabis

Polycystic ovary syndrome affects 5 to 15% of women of reproductive age. Cannabis may be useful for managing insulin resistance and obesity, both common with this condition, though that still needs clinical confirmation.

Vulcano points out that the endocannabinoid system plays a key role in regulating appetite, food intake and glucose metabolism, which could have a positive impact on managing PCOS.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

PMS affects three out of four people who menstruate, causing symptoms like irritability, tension, mood swings, breast tenderness and bloating.

Between 5 and 8% of people who menstruate have a more severe form called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which can bring depression, anxiety, irritability, insomnia and other severe physical and emotional symptoms. According to Vulcano, “cannabis is a non-hormonal alternative treatment that could have fewer negative side effects than the medications currently available.”

There's even a much-repeated story that Queen Victoria's personal physician, Sir John Russell Reynolds, prescribed her cannabis for menstrual cramps.

Does cannabis affect fertility? What the studies say

There's evidence that cannabis use can disrupt ovulation and other parts of the reproductive process, but large-scale studies haven't shown a significant drop in fertility among women who use cannabis.

The US National Survey of Family Growth found no link between cannabis use and how long it takes to get pregnant. Vulcano notes that factors like physical activity, daily cannabis use and stress need to be considered to understand how cannabis affects the menstrual cycle and fertility.

As Silvina Vulcano puts it: “When we can sort out those factors, cannabis use can stop being stigmatized and start being regulated effectively.”