“Introduction: Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects around 1 in 7 women of reproductive age. Current medical treatments tend to be sub-optimal to manage the range of symptoms, with low levels of patient satisfaction. Cross-sectional and retrospective data suggests that people with endometriosis are consuming cannabis to help manage their symptoms.

Areas covered: This review discusses the evidence for consumption of medicinal cannabis to help manage endometriosis symptoms, including potential mechanisms of action from both animal models and human studies, usage in the community, the current evidence from clinical trials and observational studies, and the safety and potential drug interactions.

Expert opinion: While there is a lack of high-quality clinical trial evidence, significant self-reported evidence from cross-sectional surveys and retrospective observational data suggests that those consuming medicinal cannabis report reductions in endometriosis symptoms such as pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and gastrointestinal symptoms, and improve mental health and sleep. Given the low levels of satisfaction with current treatment options, consideration should be given to trialing medicinal cannabis as part of the interdisciplinary management of endometriosis in those who express interest and who do not demonstrate any significant contraindications.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41070712/

• “Less than 25% of women with endometriosis report satisfaction with current conventional treatments with high discontinuation rates due to ineffectiveness and side effects.
• Dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system in endometriosis, including reduced CB₁ receptors and elevated endocannabinoid levels, provides biological plausibility for therapeutic intervention through TRPV1 modulation and PPARγ activation.
• Cannabis consumption is associated with self-reported reductions in pain, gastrointestinal symptoms and nausea, and improvements in sleep quality and mental health.
• Cannabis consumption is associated with reductions in potentially addictive medications such as opioids and benzodiazepines; however these reductions should be done under the guidance of a physician.
• Despite promising preclinical data and substantial observational evidence, robust randomized controlled trial data in humans remains lacking, preventing recommendation of more widespread adoption as a treatment.”

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17446651.2025.2572339