Medical Cannabis & Women’s Health – PatientsCann UK Skip to main content Women’s Health · Patient Education Medical cannabisand women’s health From menstrual pain to menopause, endometriosis to anxiety, a growing body of research and real patient experience is reshaping how women access and use prescribed cannabis in the UK. Here is what the evidence says, and what it means for you. PatientsCann UK  ·  Women’s Health Series  ·  18 May 2026 Jump to: Conditions The Evidence Getting Access FAQs References ~10% of women of reproductive age are estimated to have endometriosis 1 70% of women with endometriosis report inadequate pain relief from standard medicines 2 8 yrs average diagnostic delay for endometriosis in the UK 3 51% of women who used cannabis for menopause symptoms reported improved sleep 4 Conditions What conditions can prescribed cannabis help with? Prescribed cannabis is not a cure. What the evidence increasingly shows is that for many women living with difficult-to-treat conditions, it offers meaningful relief where other medicines have failed. Select a condition to explore what the research says. Endometriosis PMDD & PMS Menopause Mental Health Chronic Pain Emerging Evidence Endometriosis Endometriosis affects an estimated one in ten women of reproductive age, that’s around 1.5 million people in the UK alone1. Despite this, it takes an average of eight years to receive a diagnosis3, and many women reach that point having already tried, and found inadequate, multiple analgesic and hormonal treatments. The endocannabinoid system plays a role in pain modulation, inflammation, and tissue growth, and receptors are found in endometrial tissue itself. A 2021 preclinical review in the Journal of Clinical Medicine found that cannabinoid receptor activation suppressed endometrial cell proliferation and reduced inflammatory signalling5. Human studies remain limited, but a 2023 Australian survey of over 400 women with endometriosis found that those using cannabis reported significant reductions in pelvic pain, period pain, and pain during intercourse6. Prescribed cannabis is not a cure and does not address the underlying lesions. However, for patients whose pain is not adequately controlled by conventional medicines, it may represent a meaningful additional tool when prescribed and monitored appropriately. In practice UK clinics are prescribing for endometriosis-associated pain where patients have not responded adequately to at least two prior treatments. Specialist referral is required. Key research Sinclair et al. (2021)5; Armour et al. (2023)6 — see full references below. Emerging Evidence PMDD & PMS Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of PMS affecting approximately 5–8% of women7. Symptoms which can include; debilitating mood changes, pain, and insomnia, are cyclical and linked to fluctuating oestrogen and progesterone levels, which directly interact with the endocannabinoid system. Endocannabinoid tone appears to fluctuate across the menstrual cycle. Research has suggested that lower circulating levels of the body’s own cannabinoid anandamide may contribute to the heightened pain sensitivity and mood dysregulation seen in PMDD8. While no large randomised controlled trials have been completed in PMDD specifically, survey data and case series have reported patient-perceived benefit for pain, mood, and sleep symptoms. CBD and balanced THC:CBD preparations are being explored at specialist clinics in the UK. Clinicians emphasise that PMDD is still an evolving area and that patients should document symptoms carefully before and after initiation. What patients report Many patients describe using low-dose CBD preparations in the luteal phase of their cycle for mood and sleep support, alongside conventional SSRI or SNRI treatment if prescribed. Important note PMDD must be formally assessed and distinguished from other mood disorders. Access to prescribed cannabis for PMDD remains limited and is considered on a case-by-case basis. Growing Evidence Menopause Declining oestrogen levels during perimenopause and menopause reduce the density and sensitivity of endocannabinoid receptors, which may partly explain why symptoms such as sleep disruption, hot flushes, mood changes, and pain often intensify during this transition9. A 2022 cross-sectional study published in Menopause surveyed 258 peri- and postmenopausal women and found that 86% of those using cannabis did so to manage symptoms, with improved sleep reported by 51%, reduced anxiety by 30%, and reduced hot flushes by 27%4. Use was predominantly self-initiated rather than prescribed, which highlights the unmet need that prescribed access could address more safely. Research from the US and Canada, where prescribing frameworks are more established, is increasingly informing UK clinical practice. UK clinicians are considering prescribed cannabis for menopausal insomnia and pain particularly where hormone replacement therapy is contraindicated or declined. Symptom focus Sleep disruption, night sweats, anxiety, joint pain, and vaginal dryness are the symptoms most commonly cited by patients seeking prescribed cannabis during menopause. HRT interaction Always inform your prescriber if you are using HRT or other hormonal therapies. There are no confirmed dangerous interactions, but a complete picture of your medicines is essential for safe prescribing. Context-Dependent Mental Health Women experience anxiety and depression at approximately twice the rate of men10, and the relationship between hormonal cycles and mental health is well established. The endocannabinoid system regulates fear extinction, stress response, and emotional processing, making it a plausible therapeutic target. CBD has the most consistent evidence for anxiolytic effects, with a 2019 systematic review in The Permanente Journal finding that 79% of participants experienced reduced anxiety scores following CBD use11. For PTSD, which disproportionately affects women, preliminary trial data supports THC:CBD preparations in reducing nightmare frequency and hyperarousal12. Caution is warranted. High-THC preparations can exacerbate anxiety in some patients, particularly those with a personal or family history of psychosis. Prescribed cannabis for mental health is approached conservatively in UK clinics and is never the first or only intervention. Mood & sleep Insomnia is a recognised prescribing indication where standard treatments have been tried. Many patients with mood disorders find sleep improvement is the most tangible initial benefit. Please note If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact your GP, the Samaritans (116 123), or SHOUT (text 85258) before pursuing any new medicine. Strongest Evidence Base Chronic Pain Chronic pain is the most established indication for prescribed cannabis in the UK. Women carry a disproportionate burden

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