Medical Cannabis & Menstrual Pain

Living with menstrual pain can significantly impact your quality of life, making everyday activities challenging during your cycle. Cannabis has a long history of helping ease menstrual discomfort, dating back to ancient times. Today, modern research is beginning to validate what many women have known for centuries – that cannabis can provide effective relief from the pain and discomfort associated with menstruation.

Menstrual pain is extremely common in women of all age groups and medical backgrounds. In one recent study that surveyed over 400 women, more than 84% reported period pain, including more than 43% who reported consistent pain with every menstrual period. Despite its prevalence, many women struggle to find effective relief from conventional treatments.

Many Canadians experiencing menstrual pain have found that traditional treatments don’t always provide adequate relief or come with unwanted side effects. This has led to increased interest in alternative approaches, including medical cannabis, which may offer natural relief for various menstrual symptoms.

Menstrual pain, also known as dysmenorrhea, is pain during menstruation. It’s often described as cramping in the lower abdomen that can range from mild to severe and may be accompanied by other symptoms.

Primary Dysmenorrhea

Primary dysmenorrhea refers to menstrual pain that isn’t the result of an underlying condition. It’s caused by natural chemicals called prostaglandins that are released from the lining of the uterus during menstruation. These chemicals cause the uterus to contract, helping it shed its lining.

Secondary Dysmenorrhea

Secondary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain caused by a disorder in the reproductive organs, such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine fibroids, or pelvic inflammatory disease.

Common Symptoms of Menstrual Pain and PMS

Women may experience a variety of symptoms before and during menstruation:

•  Cramping and pain in the lower abdomen
•  Lower back pain
•  Pain that radiates to the thighs
•  Nausea and vomiting
•  Diarrhea or constipation
•  Headache or dizziness
•  Fatigue and sleep disturbances
•  Mood changes, including irritability and anxiety
•  Breast tenderness
•  Bloating and water retention

For many women, these symptoms can be severe enough to interfere with daily activities, work performance, and overall quality of life.

Cannabis has been used to treat various ailments and has been documented since ancient times. It was widely known that Queen Victoria received monthly doses of cannabis indica for menstrual discomfort throughout her adult life, prescribed by her physician Sir J. Russell Reynolds.

This historical use is now being better understood through modern science, with the discovery of the endocannabinoid system providing insight into how cannabis works for soothing menstrual pain and PMS.

Although much more research is needed to fully understand its effects, scientists believe cannabis may be effective at relieving menstrual pain because of the high concentration of endocannabinoid receptors found in the female reproductive tract, particularly in the uterus and lining of the uterus.

The effectiveness of cannabis for menstrual pain may be linked to several mechanisms:

1. Anti-inflammatory effects: Cannabis has anti-inflammatory properties, which is one potential way it could help period pain. Prostaglandins cause inflammation and pain, and cannabinoids may help reduce this inflammation.
2. Pain modulation: Cannabis compounds interact with receptors involved in pain perception and transmission, potentially reducing the sensation of pain.
3. Muscle relaxation: Cannabinoids may help relax the smooth muscle tissue of the uterus, reducing painful contractions.
4. Mood regulation: Cannabis can help manage the mood changes associated with PMS and PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder).
5. Sleep improvement: For women whose sleep is disrupted by menstrual symptoms, cannabis may help improve sleep quality.

The endocannabinoid system plays a role in regulating reproductive functions and pain perception, making cannabis a logical option for menstrual discomfort. Feeling relaxed, in general, and dampening pain, might have some effect on reducing the overall experience of menstrual discomfort.

For Canadians struggling with menstrual pain, medical cannabis may offer several potential benefits:

Primary Symptom Management

Many patients report improvements in core menstrual symptoms, including:

 Reduced cramping and abdominal pain:

•  Decreased lower back pain
•  Relief from headaches associated with menstruation
•  Improved sleep during menstruation
•  Reduced nausea and digestive issues
•  Alleviated mood changes and irritability

Complementary Therapy

Others find cannabis helpful as a complementary treatment to address the limitations or side effects of conventional treatments:

•  Alternative for those who cannot tolerate NSAIDs
•  Option for those seeking non-hormonal treatment
•  Natural approach alongside lifestyle modifications
•  Relief when other treatments have failed

Potential Advantages Over Traditional Medications

While not everyone experiences these benefits, many women report meaningful improvements in their menstrual symptoms when incorporating medical cannabis into their treatment plan under proper medical supervision.

Medical cannabis comes in various forms, each with different onset times, durations, and potential benefits for menstrual symptom management. Finding the right option depends on your specific symptoms and lifestyle needs.

Oils and Tinctures

•  Precise dosing capabilities
•  Longer-lasting effects (4-8 hours)
•  Discreet and easy to incorporate into daily routines
•  Good for maintaining consistent symptom management throughout the day

Topicals

•  Applied directly to the lower abdomen or lower back
•  Localized relief without psychoactive effects
•  Particularly effective for cramping and external pain
•  Can be used alongside systemic treatments

Capsules

•  Pre-measured doses for consistency
•  Extended-release options available
•  Similar to taking traditional medication
•  Convenient for people with established routines

Suppositories

•  Direct application to the affected area
•  Localized relief with potentially fewer systemic effects
•  Faster onset for some women
•  Option for those who prefer non-inhalation methods

Many women with menstrual pain find that a combination approach works best—perhaps using a topical application for localized cramping alongside an oil or capsule for systemic effects and mood regulation.

Your healthcare provider can help determine which forms might work best based on your specific menstrual symptoms, cycle pattern, and previous experience with cannabis.

If you’re considering medical cannabis for menstrual pain in Canada, here’s how to begin the process:

1. Consider if medical cannabis may be right for you

To determine if medical cannabis may be appropriate for your situation:

•  You experience regular menstrual pain that impacts your quality of life
•  You may have tried conventional treatments with inadequate results or experienced significant side effects
•  You must reside in Canada
•  Provincial age requirements typically align with the legal cannabis purchase age (19 in most provinces, 18 in some)

2. Book an online consultation

Our streamlined process makes it easy:

•  Schedule a video consultation with a healthcare provider
•  Complete a brief triage questionnaire after booking
•  Discuss your menstrual symptoms, treatment history, and goals

3. Receive your online prescription

If approved, you’ll receive:

•  A personalized treatment plan
•  A legal medical cannabis prescription
•  Guidance on product selection and dosing
•  Registration assistance with licensed producers

4. Ongoing support

Our care doesn’t end with your prescription:

•  Follow-up consultations to monitor progress
•  7 day a week support by phone and email
•  Dosage adjustments as needed
•  Access to healthcare professionals for questions
•  Educational resources about cannabis and menstrual pain

Starting medical cannabis treatment for menstrual pain is a significant decision. Our team of healthcare professionals specializes in cannabis medicine and can help you navigate this process safely and effectively through online prescription services across Canada.

An important consideration for anyone using cannabis for menstrual pain is how it might interact with other medications you may be taking, including hormonal birth control.

These interactions could affect how your medications work or potentially cause unwanted effects.

For your safety, always:

•  Disclose all medications to your healthcare provider during your consultation
•  Start with low doses of cannabis when using with other medications
•  Monitor for any unusual effects and report them promptly
•  Never adjust hormonal medications without medical supervision

A comprehensive consultation with a healthcare provider at Apollo Cannabis is essential to ensure your treatment plan considers all aspects of your health, providing the best opportunity for successful symptom management with your online prescription.

Finding the right cannabis dosage for menstrual pain management is a personalized process requiring individualized guidance. While we recommend consulting with a healthcare professional for personalized advice, here are some general principles:

Starting Your Cannabis Treatment:

•  Begin with minimal doses
•  Start with 2.5mg THC or less (if using THC)
•  Consider starting with 5-20mg CBD, which has anti-inflammatory properties
•  Time your usage to coincide with your menstrual cycle—some women start a few days before expected menstruation
•  For localized pain, consider starting with a topical application

Gradual adjustments:

•  Increase by small increments
•  Allow time between adjustments to assess the effects
•  Focus on finding the minimal effective dose
•  Consider different CBD:THC ratios to find what works best for your symptoms

Tracking response:

•  Document dosage, timing, and effects alongside your menstrual cycle
•  Note improvements in specific menstrual symptoms
•  Track pain levels using a consistent scale
•  Record any unwanted effects

These general guidelines are based on standards from The College of Family Physicians of Canada but must be tailored to your specific needs by a healthcare provider during your online consultation.

Remember that cannabis affects everyone differently, and finding your optimal dosage may take time and patience. Working with a healthcare provider experienced in cannabis for women’s health can significantly improve your results when getting an online prescription in Canada.