Nearly a quarter of women with chronic pelvic pain use cannabis, and 96% of users report symptom improvement
Among 113 women with chronic pelvic pain, 23% used cannabis, with 96% reporting improvement in pain, sleep, anxiety, and other symptoms, and over a third reducing their healthcare visits.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
23% of chronic pelvic pain patients used cannabis, with 72% using at least weekly. 96% of users reported symptom improvement including pain, cramping, muscle spasms, anxiety, depression, sleep, libido, and irritability. 35% reduced provider contact and 39% decreased clinical visits.
Key Numbers
113 respondents; 23% used cannabis; 72% of users at least weekly; 96% reported improvement; 84% had side effects; 35% reduced provider calls; 39% fewer clinical visits
How They Did This
Cross-sectional anonymous electronic survey of 113 women with pelvic/perineal pain, dyspareunia, or endometriosis at an outpatient gynecology office (March-August 2019).
Why This Research Matters
Chronic pelvic pain affects up to 15% of U.S. women and has limited treatment options. The endocannabinoid system has receptors throughout the uterus and reproductive tissues, providing a biological basis for cannabis as a treatment target.
The Bigger Picture
The high rate of self-reported improvement among pelvic pain patients adds to evidence from endometriosis studies suggesting cannabis may be particularly relevant for reproductive and pelvic pain conditions.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small sample, single outpatient office, 47% response rate, self-reported outcomes without objective measures, selection bias possible, 84% reported side effects.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would a controlled trial confirm these self-reported benefits?
- ?What cannabinoid formulations are most effective for pelvic pain?
- ?Are there specific pelvic pain conditions (endometriosis vs vulvodynia) where cannabis is more effective?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 96% of cannabis-using pelvic pain patients reported symptom improvement
- Evidence Grade:
- Small cross-sectional survey from a single gynecology office with self-reported outcomes
- Study Age:
- Published in 2021. Research on cannabinoids for pelvic and reproductive pain is in early stages.
- Original Title:
- Use of Cannabis for Self-Management of Chronic Pelvic Pain.
- Published In:
- Journal of women's health (2002), 30(9), 1344-1351 (2021)
- Authors:
- Carrubba, Aakriti R, Ebbert, Jon O, Spaulding, Aaron C, DeStephano, David, DeStephano, Christopher C
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03049
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can cannabis help with chronic pelvic pain?
In this survey, 96% of women with chronic pelvic pain who used cannabis reported symptom improvement. However, this was self-reported without a control group, so results should be interpreted cautiously.
Why might cannabis work for pelvic pain?
Cannabinoid receptors are highly expressed in the uterus and other pelvic tissues, providing a biological basis. The endocannabinoid system is a potential therapeutic target for conditions like endometriosis and other forms of pelvic pain.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03049APA
Carrubba, Aakriti R; Ebbert, Jon O; Spaulding, Aaron C; DeStephano, David; DeStephano, Christopher C. (2021). Use of Cannabis for Self-Management of Chronic Pelvic Pain.. Journal of women's health (2002), 30(9), 1344-1351. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2020.8737
MLA
Carrubba, Aakriti R, et al. "Use of Cannabis for Self-Management of Chronic Pelvic Pain.." Journal of women's health (2002), 2021. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2020.8737
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Use of Cannabis for Self-Management of Chronic Pelvic Pain." RTHC-03049. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/carrubba-2021-use-of-cannabis-for
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.