Medicinal Cannabis Reduces Endometriosis Pain and Improves Quality of Life | Research

The takeaway

Women with endometriosis who used prescribed medicinal cannabis (CBD oil ± dried flower) reported significant pain reduction and nearly halved their quality-of-life burden scores over 12 weeks, though the study lacked a control group.

Women with endometriosis, gynecologists, pain management specialists, and researchers studying cannabis therapeutics for chronic pelvic pain.

What the researchers found

Over 12 weeks of medicinal cannabis use, overall pelvic pain scores decreased from 5.46 to 3.77, worst pain from 7.62 to 5.38, and EHP-30 total quality-of-life scores dropped from 68.77 to 37.40 — with limited adverse events reported.

Why it matters

Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women with limited treatment options, and this is among the first prospective studies to track prescribed medicinal cannabis effects on endometriosis symptoms using validated outcome measures.

The numbers in context

Overall pain: 5.46→3.77; worst pain: 7.62→5.38; EHP-30 total score: 68.77→37.40 (nearly halved); 12-week follow-up; CBD oil ± dried flower; limited adverse events

How the study worked

Prospective mixed-methods cohort study of women aged 18-50 with diagnosed endometriosis in New Zealand, prescribed CBD oil alone or with dried cannabis flower, tracking weekly pain scores and EHP-30 quality-of-life measures over 3 months plus completion interviews.

What this study cannot tell us

No control group (cannot rule out placebo effect or natural symptom fluctuation); small sample; self-selected participants likely to be cannabis-positive; New Zealand regulatory context; 3-month duration only; mixed products used.

How to read the evidence

Prospective cohort with validated outcome measures provides supportive evidence, but absence of a control group and small sample significantly limit conclusions.

When this study was published

Published 2026; conducted in New Zealand's medicinal cannabis regulatory framework.

The bigger picture

With current endometriosis treatments often providing incomplete relief with significant side effects, medicinal cannabis may represent an important addition to the treatment toolkit — but controlled trials are needed.

Questions still open

Would a placebo-controlled trial confirm these benefits? Is CBD oil alone sufficient or does dried flower add benefit? What are the long-term effects and optimal dosing for endometriosis?

Common questions

Can cannabis help with endometriosis pain?

This study found that prescribed medicinal cannabis reduced pelvic pain scores by about 30% and nearly halved quality-of-life burden over 12 weeks, but the lack of a control group means placebo effects can't be ruled out.

What type of cannabis was used for endometriosis?

Participants were prescribed CBD oil alone or in combination with dried cannabis flower by a specialist consultant, with dosing adjusted individually over the 12-week study period.

Read the original research

Perceived impact of medicinal cannabis on pelvic pain and endometriosis related symptoms in Aotearoa New Zealand: an observational cohort study.

BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 26(1), 60

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Henry, Claire; Cooper, Lily; Adler, Hannah; Sinclair, Justin; Martin, Alexander; Semprini, Alex; Mikocka-Walus, Antonina; Armour, Mike. (2026). Perceived impact of medicinal cannabis on pelvic pain and endometriosis related symptoms in Aotearoa New Zealand: an observational cohort study.. BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 26(1), 60. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-05189-y