Does CBD help with endometriosis pain?
In this article
What's the lowdown?
CBD is an active ingredient of the cannabis plant but does not have psychoactive properties
It can be found in gummies, balms, oils and even a brand of tampons
Preliminary research has found CBD to have pain-relieving properties
However, research on CBD and pain-relief specifically for endometriosis in humans is limited and we recommend using these products with caution as we do not know how they can interact with other medications
What is CBD?
CBD or cannabidiol, is an active ingredient from the cannabis plant. Unlike the THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) ingredient in cannabis, CBD does not have any psychoactive properties, meaning you won’t get a high when you take it1.
The World Health Organization has concluded that cannabidiol in its pure state does not cause harm or have the potential to be abused.1
Clinical studies have shown the potential pain-relieving properties of CBD, along with easing anxiety and improving sleep quality2. Some preliminary research has also shown the benefits of slowing down the inflammatory pathway in the body3. This opens quite a few avenues for alternative pain management in people with muscle aches, nerve pain and even period pain.
CBD is not a prescription medication and you can get it in creams or oils over the counter. Did you know there is even a CBD infused tampon out there? More on that later…. keep reading!
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a chronic, often debilitating condition. Normally, the uterus (womb) is lined with endometrial tissue which builds up and then sheds as a period during the menstrual cycle. In endometriosis, similar tissue also grows outside of the uterus, in areas such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries and bowel4. Like the lining of the womb, this tissue responds to hormonal changes, but because it has no way to exit the body, it can cause internal bleeding, inflammation, and the formation of scar tissue. This leads to symptoms such as severe period pain, bloating, and fatigue, and can result in long-term complications, including infertility.
Can CBD help endometriosis symptoms?
As CBD is not classified as a licensed medication, research into its use for endometriosis is limited. Most available studies focus on cannabis as a whole, which contains both THC and CBD, making it difficult to isolate the specific effects of CBD alone. These studies are often based on self-reported surveys of people using cannabis for pain relief, which introduces potential bias and lacks standardisation in dosage, formulation, and method of use.5,6 As a result, the overall quality of evidence is low, and there is currently no clinical consensus on the effectiveness of CBD for managing endometriosis pain. While some users report benefits, cannabis remains illegal in the UK and carries potential risks with long-term use. For these reasons, it is not recommended as a method of pain relief for endometriosis at this time .
Daye CBD tampon
Daye is a women’s health company that is the exclusive supplier of CBD tampons to date! They produce tampons infused with their own lab-tested CBD concoction. Their aim is to offer an innovative method of delivering CBD and their pain-relieving properties localised to the uterus.
As this technology is quite new, it is easy to be sceptical about how it works. As Daye is committed to safe and effective products, they have conducted research in line with the European Medicines Agency and The US Food and Drug Administration criteria to confirm their tampons are safe to use.
They conducted their own study proving the efficacy of their products in a peer-reviewed journal which produced promising results!7
You can give these CBD tampons a try here or read our review to find out more!
How else can you manage endometriosis pain?
CBD is one of the many options to treat endometriosis pain. These range from medications to hormones to natural remedies.
Heat therapies like a hot water bottle are useful in providing immediate relief. Others find transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) machines like Myoovi soothe their cramps. Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and paracetamol can provide pain relief. Contraception is a hormonal treatment method which can stop or help regulate periods. You can read more about the best contraceptive options for endometriosis in our blog here. In severe cases surgery can be recommended to remove the endometrial deposits found within the body8.
This is just a whistle stop tour of the pain management options for endometriosis. If you’re interested in finding out more about this check out our blog here.
Dr Fatema Dawoodbhoy
Fatema is currently training in London as an Academic doctor, with a special interest in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She is passionate about championing women to understand their bodies better and prioritise their health. She understands the importance of clinically accurate articles and has been writing engaging and educative medical content for 5 years.
Our medical review process
This article has been medically reviewed for factual and up to date information by a Lowdown doctor.
