Medical marijuana has been touted to have some significant medical benefits, most especially pain control. Although it isn’t strong enough to treat severe pain (such asbonefractures or post-surgical pain), it can be effective in relieving different types ofchronic painin many people.
Practitioners ofalternative medicinewill frequently include menstrual cramps as one of the conditions that medical marijuana can help treat. Insofar as it has been reported to help relieve symptoms ofendometriosisandinterstitial cystitis, it would seem reasonable to assume that marijuana can help treat the cyclical cramps and pelvic pain that can occur withmenstruation.
But can it?
The Pros and Cons of Medical Marijuana
Mechanism of Action
Marijuana (Cannabis sativa) contains more than 100 different compounds called cannabinoids, some of which have psychoactive properties. These compounds are easily absorbed when inhaled or eaten and can cross theblood-brain barrierto act directly on the brain.
The body is populated with a vast quantity of cannabinoid receptors, called CB1 and CB2, found mainly in the central nervous system but also in the lungs, liver, kidneys, and joints.These are the same receptors that naturally occurring compounds, called endocannabinoids, attach to.
Endocannabinoids, part of the body’sendocannabinoid system, are believed to play an important role in regulating pain andinflammation.The ability of cannabinoids to attach to these receptors suggests that they may exert similar activity.
The two most recognized cannabinoids in marijuana are:
While THC and CBD are thought to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain-relieving) properties, how they do so differs from other anti-inflammatory or analgesic agents.
Different Conditions That Marijuana Can Treat
What the Evidence Says
Not surprisingly, there is a lack of quality research regarding the benefits of medical marijuana in treating menstrual pain. Even so, cannabis has a long history of use ingynecology. Back in the late-19th century, Sir John Russell Reynolds, Queen Victoria’s personal physician, was said to prescribe hemp tincture to relieve the monarch’s painful menstrual cramps.
By contrast, cannabinoids like THC and CBD exert no activity on COX receptors. and, therefore, have no influence on the production of prostaglandins. Rather, they stimulate the release of the “feel-good” hormone dopamine in the brain (where CB1 resides in high density) while reducing inflammation in the nerves and joints (where CB2 resides in high density).
This suggests that THC and CBD are most beneficial in treating chronic neuropathic pain and inflammatory joint disorders likerheumatoid arthritis. Even so, a 2018 review from the University of Alberta suggests that the benefits may be small.
Because THC and CBD have no effect on prostaglandin production—the compound responsible for menstrual cramps—it is unclear how they are meant to relieve menstrual pain and inflammation.
With that said, it is possible that THC induces euphoria than can reduce the perception of pain. By contrast, CBD’s effect on menstrual cramps remains unknown and largely unsubstantiated.
Safety of Medical Marijuana
At this point, we don’t really know how safe medical marijuana use. Although many people presume it to be safe, the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) warns that the long-term consequences of marijuana use are still unknown.
Moreover,CBD oils, extracts, and tincturespopularly sold as alternative therapies sometimes contain unknown ingredients, and it is often difficult to know if the doses list on the product label are accurate.
Based on current advisement from the NIDA, medical marijuana in its inhaled form should not be used in people who:
Because there is little evidence about the safety of marijuana in pregnancy, it is best to avoid the drug if you are of reproductive age or use a provenform of birth control.
Though marijuana has not been shown to be cause birth defects, the presence of cannabinoid receptors in the fetal brain suggests that marijuana may impact a child’s cognitive and behavioral development in later years.
There is also evidence that marijuana use during pregnancy may increase the risk of pregnancy loss due to the overstimulation of cannabinoid receptors in the lining of the uterus.
Potential Harms and Risk of Marijuana
A Word From Verywell
If you have severe, recurrent menstrual cramps that do not respond to conservative treatment, talks to your gynecologist about hormonal therapies or surgical options (likeendometrial ablationorhysterectomy) that may help.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pratt M, Stevens A, Thuku M, Butler C, et. al.Benefits and harms of medical cannabis: a scoping review of systematic reviews.Syst Rev.2019 Dec 10;8(1):320. doi:10.1186/s13643-019-1243-xCox A.Management of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.Can Urol Assoc J. 2018;12(6 Suppl 3):S157-60. doi:10.5489/cuaj.5324Allan GM, Finley CR, Ton J, et al.Systematic review of systematic reviews for medical cannabinoids: Pain, nausea and vomiting, spasticity, and harms.Can Fam Physician.2018;64(2):e78-e94.Woodhams SG, Chapman V, Finn DP, Hohmann AG, Neugebauer V.The cannabinoid system and pain.Neuropharmacology. 2017;124:105-120. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.06.015De Aquino JP, Ross DA.Cannabinoids and pain: Weeding out undesired effects with a novel approach to analgesia.Biol Psychiatry. 2018;84(10):e67-9. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.09.003Oladosu FA, Tu FF, Hellman KM.Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug resistance in dysmenorrhea: epidemiology, causes, and treatment.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2018;218(4):390-400. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2017.08.108Bruni N, Della Pepa C, Oliaro-Bosso S, Pessione E, Gastaldi D, Dosio F.Cannabinoid delivery systems for pain and inflammation treatment.Molecules. 2018;23(10):2478. doi:10.3390/molecules23102478National Institute on Drug Abuse.Is marijuana safe and effective as medicine?National Institute of Drug Abuse.Cannabis (marijuana).American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists.ACOG Committee opinion no 722: Marijuana use during pregnancy and lactation.Obstet Gynecol.2017 Oct;130(4):e205-9. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000002354Wu CS, Jew CP, Lu HC.Lasting impacts of prenatal cannabis exposure and the role of endogenous cannabinoids in the developing brain.Future Neurol. 2011;6(4):459-80.Metz TD, Borgelt LM.Marijuana use in pregnancy and while breastfeeding.Obstet Gynecol. 2018;132(5):1198-210. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000002878
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pratt M, Stevens A, Thuku M, Butler C, et. al.Benefits and harms of medical cannabis: a scoping review of systematic reviews.Syst Rev.2019 Dec 10;8(1):320. doi:10.1186/s13643-019-1243-xCox A.Management of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.Can Urol Assoc J. 2018;12(6 Suppl 3):S157-60. doi:10.5489/cuaj.5324Allan GM, Finley CR, Ton J, et al.Systematic review of systematic reviews for medical cannabinoids: Pain, nausea and vomiting, spasticity, and harms.Can Fam Physician.2018;64(2):e78-e94.Woodhams SG, Chapman V, Finn DP, Hohmann AG, Neugebauer V.The cannabinoid system and pain.Neuropharmacology. 2017;124:105-120. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.06.015De Aquino JP, Ross DA.Cannabinoids and pain: Weeding out undesired effects with a novel approach to analgesia.Biol Psychiatry. 2018;84(10):e67-9. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.09.003Oladosu FA, Tu FF, Hellman KM.Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug resistance in dysmenorrhea: epidemiology, causes, and treatment.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2018;218(4):390-400. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2017.08.108Bruni N, Della Pepa C, Oliaro-Bosso S, Pessione E, Gastaldi D, Dosio F.Cannabinoid delivery systems for pain and inflammation treatment.Molecules. 2018;23(10):2478. doi:10.3390/molecules23102478National Institute on Drug Abuse.Is marijuana safe and effective as medicine?National Institute of Drug Abuse.Cannabis (marijuana).American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists.ACOG Committee opinion no 722: Marijuana use during pregnancy and lactation.Obstet Gynecol.2017 Oct;130(4):e205-9. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000002354Wu CS, Jew CP, Lu HC.Lasting impacts of prenatal cannabis exposure and the role of endogenous cannabinoids in the developing brain.Future Neurol. 2011;6(4):459-80.Metz TD, Borgelt LM.Marijuana use in pregnancy and while breastfeeding.Obstet Gynecol. 2018;132(5):1198-210. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000002878
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Pratt M, Stevens A, Thuku M, Butler C, et. al.Benefits and harms of medical cannabis: a scoping review of systematic reviews.Syst Rev.2019 Dec 10;8(1):320. doi:10.1186/s13643-019-1243-xCox A.Management of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.Can Urol Assoc J. 2018;12(6 Suppl 3):S157-60. doi:10.5489/cuaj.5324Allan GM, Finley CR, Ton J, et al.Systematic review of systematic reviews for medical cannabinoids: Pain, nausea and vomiting, spasticity, and harms.Can Fam Physician.2018;64(2):e78-e94.Woodhams SG, Chapman V, Finn DP, Hohmann AG, Neugebauer V.The cannabinoid system and pain.Neuropharmacology. 2017;124:105-120. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.06.015De Aquino JP, Ross DA.Cannabinoids and pain: Weeding out undesired effects with a novel approach to analgesia.Biol Psychiatry. 2018;84(10):e67-9. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.09.003Oladosu FA, Tu FF, Hellman KM.Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug resistance in dysmenorrhea: epidemiology, causes, and treatment.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2018;218(4):390-400. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2017.08.108Bruni N, Della Pepa C, Oliaro-Bosso S, Pessione E, Gastaldi D, Dosio F.Cannabinoid delivery systems for pain and inflammation treatment.Molecules. 2018;23(10):2478. doi:10.3390/molecules23102478National Institute on Drug Abuse.Is marijuana safe and effective as medicine?National Institute of Drug Abuse.Cannabis (marijuana).American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists.ACOG Committee opinion no 722: Marijuana use during pregnancy and lactation.Obstet Gynecol.2017 Oct;130(4):e205-9. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000002354Wu CS, Jew CP, Lu HC.Lasting impacts of prenatal cannabis exposure and the role of endogenous cannabinoids in the developing brain.Future Neurol. 2011;6(4):459-80.Metz TD, Borgelt LM.Marijuana use in pregnancy and while breastfeeding.Obstet Gynecol. 2018;132(5):1198-210. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000002878
Pratt M, Stevens A, Thuku M, Butler C, et. al.Benefits and harms of medical cannabis: a scoping review of systematic reviews.Syst Rev.2019 Dec 10;8(1):320. doi:10.1186/s13643-019-1243-x
Cox A.Management of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.Can Urol Assoc J. 2018;12(6 Suppl 3):S157-60. doi:10.5489/cuaj.5324
Allan GM, Finley CR, Ton J, et al.Systematic review of systematic reviews for medical cannabinoids: Pain, nausea and vomiting, spasticity, and harms.Can Fam Physician.2018;64(2):e78-e94.
Woodhams SG, Chapman V, Finn DP, Hohmann AG, Neugebauer V.The cannabinoid system and pain.Neuropharmacology. 2017;124:105-120. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.06.015
De Aquino JP, Ross DA.Cannabinoids and pain: Weeding out undesired effects with a novel approach to analgesia.Biol Psychiatry. 2018;84(10):e67-9. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.09.003
Oladosu FA, Tu FF, Hellman KM.Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug resistance in dysmenorrhea: epidemiology, causes, and treatment.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2018;218(4):390-400. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2017.08.108
Bruni N, Della Pepa C, Oliaro-Bosso S, Pessione E, Gastaldi D, Dosio F.Cannabinoid delivery systems for pain and inflammation treatment.Molecules. 2018;23(10):2478. doi:10.3390/molecules23102478
National Institute on Drug Abuse.Is marijuana safe and effective as medicine?
National Institute of Drug Abuse.Cannabis (marijuana).
American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists.ACOG Committee opinion no 722: Marijuana use during pregnancy and lactation.Obstet Gynecol.2017 Oct;130(4):e205-9. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000002354
Wu CS, Jew CP, Lu HC.Lasting impacts of prenatal cannabis exposure and the role of endogenous cannabinoids in the developing brain.Future Neurol. 2011;6(4):459-80.
Metz TD, Borgelt LM.Marijuana use in pregnancy and while breastfeeding.Obstet Gynecol. 2018;132(5):1198-210. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000002878
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