Endometriosis, and symptoms associated with menopause, are often painfully slow to diagnose and difficult to manage because of their impact on day-to-day life. When conventional approaches have proven ineffective, our cannabis-based treatments may provide relief from joint pain, stomach cramps, anxiety, or inflammation, and our doctors carefully curate treatment plans to suit your needs as an individual.
Women's Health
Endometriosis affects around 1 in 10 people with a uterus, while 77% experience one or more ‘difficult’ menopausal symptom. Conventional medications, such as painkillers or HRT, can be ineffective for some, or come with debilitating side effects. Now, evidence suggests that more women are turning to alternative treatments such as cannabis-based treatments.
How Can Cannabis-Based Treatments Help?
Medical cannabis may be an effective treatment for symptoms associated with women's health conditions, including insomnia, pain, inflammation, and mood. Following the legalisation of medical cannabis in the UK in 2018, our expert consultants can carefully tailor your treatment plan to your needs and offer a place to start, where conventional stopped.
95%
Of those with endometriosis say it negatively impacts their wellbeing.
80%
Of women experience menopause symptoms, and, they last 7.4 years on average.
40%
of patients treated at Releaf are over the age of 45, and 1 in 10 are aged 55-64.
>5%
Of UK adults know medical cannabis can be prescribed for menopause symptoms
25. 04. 2024
Endometriosis is estimated to affect around 10% of those with a womb between puberty and menopause, but still, effective treatments, and research into the condition itself, are severely lacking. This can, understandably, be extremely frustrating for those affected.
25. 04. 2024
Lucy MacKinnon
07. 05. 2024
Menopause is a natural process characterised by the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles. It is associated with a number of symptoms that can cause significant disruption to everyday life. Yet, despite perimenopause and postmenopause affecting approximately 13 million people in the UK, there remains a distinct lack of awareness and education about menopause, as well as access to effective therapies.
07. 05. 2024
Emily Ledger
19. 10. 2023
October is known as the month of falling leaves, cosy jumpers, and the start of spooky season – but, what you may not have known is that October is also World Menopause Awareness Month, with Menopause Awareness Day taking place on the 18th.
19. 10. 2023
Lucy MacKinnon
“The growing awareness that female physiological differences can lead to the misdiagnosis of conditions, highlights the need for clinical approaches that better account for these variations. Other conditions such as endometriosis can take up to seven years to be diagnosed, all the while the patient is passed from pillar to post and started on a plethora of medication in a hope that distress is alleviated. Experience now tells us that medical cannabis is a particularly effective treatment for menstrual related pain conditions.“
Dr. Maria Knobel
General Practitioner
Common women's health symptoms
Constant pain
Fatigue
Insomnia
Joint pain
Lack of relief from OTC painkillers
Loss of appetite
Low mood
Reduced quality of life
Sleep disruption
It's important to note that these symptoms are general and may not be exclusive to any specific condition. Consulting with a healthcare professional is crucial for accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment plans based on individual needs.
Common women's health conditions
Medical cannabis for women’s health concerns such as menopause, PMDD, and more could potentially address insomnia, pain, inflammation, and mood dysregulation. Women’s health conditions are often complex, impacting multiple areas of health and disrupting the person’s quality of life. While conventional approaches include hormone replacement therapy, painkillers, and antidepressants, many are now looking for alternative treatments for menopause symptoms and other women’s health conditions.
Period pain and more severe conditions such as pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) cause pain, sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression. Perimenopause (the transitional time before menopause) and menopause are also associated with aches and pains, plus mood swings, hot flushes, night sweats, brain fog, and weight fluctuations.
Medical cannabis contains phytocannabinoids, which means cannabinoids found in plants. This is significant because in your body, you have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that affects nearly every aspect of health and wellbeing. The ECS has a network of receptors that can be impacted by phytocannabinoids, potentially offering relief for a range of conditions. For example, research shows that cannabinoids offer therapeutic potential for pain relief via their impact on the ECS.
There are various women’s health conditions medical cannabis can be prescribed for, and your eligibility for medical cannabis will usually depend on the symptoms you’re experiencing and the severity of these symptoms.
PMDD is a hormone-related disorder that causes pain, mood swings, and fatigue, and is strongly associated with depression. One of the most common treatments is antidepressants, taken during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, which occurs just after ovulation. If eligible, you may be prescribed medical cannabis for PMDD to help with pain and cramps, insomnia, or mood dysregulation.
Some patients may be prescribed medical cannabis for endometriosis, a painful condition where cells similar to those found in the womb lining start to grow elsewhere in the body. Patients may struggle with endometriosis pain for months while awaiting a diagnosis, because the condition is often confused with other problems, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and adenomyosis. Medical cannabis could offer some relief from the pain associated with endometriosis, thanks to its potential anti-inflammatory action.
Others may be prescribed medical cannabis for symptoms ranging from intense fatigue and brain fog to depression or chronic pain.
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Symptoms associated with women’s health conditions |
How symptoms present |
How medical cannabis could help |
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The NHS notes that muscle aches and joint pain are symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Research suggests that lower oestrogen levels can cause “musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause,” pain which impacts 70% of people going through menopause and is disabling in 25% of cases. |
Chronic pain is the most common treatment indication for medical cannabis, according to the largest survey of active UK medical cannabis patients ever conducted. This is due to potential anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce the impact and perception of pain, for some people. |
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Sleep disorders |
Insomnia and other sleep problems are common during symptoms of PMDD, menopause, and other women’s health conditions. Causes may include physical discomfort, feeling too hot, or anxiety. |
Some patients find medical cannabis helps improve their sleep, which can reduce the brain fog and fatigue associated with sleeplessness. |
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Pain, lack of sleep, and worries about changes the body is going through can all contribute to anxiety. |
Medical cannabis’s effect on the ECS may offer relief from anxiety, and improved sleep and reduced pain can also help improve mood. |
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The NHS states that menopause can increase the likelihood of depression, where mood remains low for extended periods of time. PMDD is also strongly linked to depression, which may ebb and flow in severity throughout the month. |
The potential therapeutic effect of medical cannabis on the ECS could regulate your mood. |
Menopause is an inevitability for almost anyone born with ovaries. As the body stops producing eggs, menstrual periods stop, and the hormone fluctuations associated with this can cause symptoms ranging from anxiety to muscular pain and sleeplessness.
Patient stories may also offer hope for women struggling with severe menopause symptoms. One patient underwent cancer treatment that triggered premature menopause, with symptoms including pain, insomnia, and anxiety. Here’s what she had to say about being prescribed medical cannabis for women's health concerns and the symptoms associated with these:
“I'm in a better place, and so much of the pain and discomfort and anxiety seems to have lifted. Don't get me wrong, there are times where I can feel anxiety coming on, but now I can control it. I can stop the negative thoughts before they spiral out of control. I feel more like me than I have for a long time.” Jodie, a Releaf patient.
Period pain can be debilitating, leading to time taken off work or missing social engagements. Managing this pain more effectively can result in improved sleep, reduced brain fog, and a better overall quality of life. Medical cannabis for period pain may offer relief thanks to potential anti-inflammatory properties, plus it may reduce the impact of cramps and spasms for some people.
PMDD is a more severe premenstrual condition, which can cause pain, mood swings, anxiety, and depression. If eligible, you may be prescribed medical cannabis for better mood regulation. One 2025 review of research into medical cannabis and anxiety concluded that 70% of studies indicate that this medication helps reduce the impact of both social and generalised anxiety.
For women’s health conditions, UK treatment options could include medical cannabis, depending on the symptoms you’re experiencing. Head to Releaf’s medical cannabis eligibility checker to find out if you may be able to access medical cannabis for conditions such as period pain, PMDD, or endometriosis. An eligibility check takes around 30 seconds and could be the next step to sourcing alternative treatments for pain, insomnia, and mood disorders.
Releaf is the most trusted UK medical cannabis clinic, with a Trustpilot score of 4.8/5 from over 9,000 reviews. Our world-class clinical team includes more than 50 specialists, many of whom have experience and knowledge of various women’s health conditions UK patients struggle with.
Before you get started, you probably want to know how Releaf pricing works. You can opt for a pay-as-you-go plan, or pay a monthly subscription for Releaf+, which offers discounts on medication. Additional benefits include a rewards scheme, plus access to Releaf Protect, a service offering free legal advice on any aspect of medical cannabis.
Managing pain, mood, and sleep can be the key to regaining control of your life. If you want to find out more about the benefits of medical cannabis for menopause symptoms, PMDD, period pain, and other women’s health conditions, contact our team.
