Can CBD help with menopause symptoms?

What is menopause?

Menopause is the day which marks 12 months without periods. It is usually experienced by women around the age of 45 to 55¹. Before menopause, there is a transition period called perimenopause which can last for months or even years. During perimenopause, women can experience uncomfortable symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats, period changes, mood changes and disturbances in sleep². 

You can break down the symptoms of perimenopause into 4 categories:

• Vasomotor symptoms: such as hot flushes, night sweats, and heart palpitations. 
• Physical symptoms: such as joint pain, headaches and hair thinning. 
• Psychological symptoms: such as brain fog, changes to mood and memory, and body image issues 
• Urogenital symptoms: such as vaginal dryness or itching, urinary symptoms and painful sex (dyspareunia). 

What is CBD?

CBD stands for cannabidiol. While it is part of the cannabis plant, it does not have any psychoactive properties to it. This means you will not get a high like you would from smoking marijuana. 

According to the World Health Organisation: ‘The WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) concluded that, in its pure state, cannabidiol does not appear to have abuse potential or cause harm’³. A study found that CBD alone does not affect daily functioning but has some sedative properties. Otherwise it does not have any effect on physical or cognitive performance⁴. 

CBD is available over the counter and you can get CBD in liquid form or in creams. But does CBD and menopause go hand in hand?

Can CBD help with menopause?

CBD has been known to help with symptoms such as anxiety, chronic pain and sleep issues, but sadly, there is limited research into CBD for menopausal symptoms specifically. 

There have been multiple studies looking into the effects of cannabidiol on anxiety related disorders. 2 large studies done in 2015 and 2019 showed the positive beneficial effects of CBD on reducing levels of anxiety in participants. However, the doses of CBD varied between the studies, with one study using a range of 25 mg to 175 mg while the other used 300 to 600 mg^5,6. 

In regards to sleep, the literature is a little inconsistent here. One study found that there were beneficial effects of CBD on sleep, but it came with changes to the sleep cycle and impacted memory formation⁷. Another study contraindicated the findings of the last study. They found that nightly supplementation of 150mg of CBD did not have any effect on improving sleep and had the same effect as placebos⁸. 

CBD has shown benefit for chronic pain. It has been found to be an alternative to opioid medications which can be addictive in the long run⁹. Of the studies reviewed, a majority of them found a pain reduction ranging from 42% – 66% with CBD alone¹⁰. 

However, it is important to note the UK National Health Service (NHS) or the National Institute of Clinical Excellence has not released any official guidelines on the use of CBD for menopause. 

CBD is still not a highly regulated product and should be taken with caution. 

How else can menopausal symptoms be managed?

Hormone replacement therapy can be prescribed by your GP or specialist to help ease your symptoms. It aims to introduce the oestrogen and progesterone hormones back into your body which are slowly depleting during this time. The symptoms of perimenopause can be attributed to the fluctuating and overall declining levels of oestrogen in the body. However, depending on your medical history and associated risks, not everyone is suitable for HRT. 

Alternatively, lifestyle factors such as exercise, incorporating a healthy diet, ensuring adequate sleep and reduction in smoking and alcohol can make a huge difference to your symptoms.

Some antidepressants can be prescribed to treat menopausal symptoms if you do not want, or cannot have HRT. Talking therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be offered as an additional therapy. 

Can CBD oil affect HRT?

This is a hard question to answer. Sadly there is no research e looking at the interaction of CBD with HRT. 

The NHS website has advised against taking herbal remedies without consulting medical advice from a doctor or pharmacist¹¹. 

As CBD is not a prescription medication, it is not tested in the same way as other medications so there is limited insight into how CBD interacts with other drugs. 

So if you are taking HRT and you do not feel it is benefiting you speak to your doctor and see if they can optimise your treatment planfirst.

If you’re looking for other ways to manage your menopausal symptoms, check out our reviews and experiences from other women, just like you.