Most women with IBD were unsure about cannabis risks during pregnancy and rarely discussed it with doctors
Among 102 women of reproductive age with IBD, nearly 19% used cannabis, but over half were unsure about pregnancy-related risks and only 15% had ever discussed cannabis with their healthcare provider.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among 102 women with IBD aged 18-45, 18.6% reported cannabis use. Cannabis users were more likely to report constant pain. Over half (52%) were unsure about specific risks of cannabis use during pregnancy, and only 14.7% had ever discussed cannabis with their healthcare provider.
Key Numbers
102 women with IBD; 18.6% used cannabis; 52% unsure about pregnancy-specific risks; only 14.7% discussed cannabis with their provider; cannabis users more likely to report constant pain in past 12 months
How They Did This
Cross-sectional survey of women with IBD (ages 18-45) recruited at Mount Sinai Hospital and via Twitter. Anonymous surveys covered demographics, cannabis use, pregnancy risk perceptions, and healthcare provider discussions.
Why This Research Matters
Women with IBD often turn to cannabis for symptom relief, but the combination of uncertainty about pregnancy risks and low rates of provider discussion creates a dangerous information gap.
The Bigger Picture
As cannabis legalization expands, the disconnect between cannabis use by women with chronic conditions and provider discussions about pregnancy risks represents a growing clinical concern.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small sample size; convenience sampling via hospital and social media; self-reported data; cannot determine if cannabis use was for symptom management or recreational; cross-sectional design
Questions This Raises
- ?What prevents providers from initiating cannabis discussions with women of reproductive age?
- ?Would structured screening improve communication about cannabis and pregnancy risk?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 52% unsure about cannabis pregnancy risks
- Evidence Grade:
- Small cross-sectional survey with convenience sampling from a single hospital and social media.
- Study Age:
- 2024 study
- Original Title:
- Perceptions and Prevalence of Cannabis Use in Women With Inflammatory Bowel Disease of Reproductive Age: A Cross-Sectional Study.
- Published In:
- Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology, 7(2), 204-211 (2024)
- Authors:
- Hossein-Javaheri, Nariman, O'Connor, Katie, Steinhart, Hillary(2), Deshpande, Amol, Maxwell, Cynthia, Huang, Vivian, Tandon, Parul
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05385
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How many women with IBD used cannabis?
About 19% of the 102 women surveyed reported using cannabis. Those who used cannabis were more likely to report experiencing constant pain in the past 12 months, suggesting symptom management may drive use.
Why is the provider communication gap concerning?
Over half the women were unsure about the specific risks of cannabis during pregnancy, and only about 15% had ever discussed cannabis with their healthcare provider. Those who did discuss it were actually more likely to perceive cannabis as unsafe during pregnancy, suggesting these conversations are valuable but rarely happening.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05385APA
Hossein-Javaheri, Nariman; O'Connor, Katie; Steinhart, Hillary; Deshpande, Amol; Maxwell, Cynthia; Huang, Vivian; Tandon, Parul. (2024). Perceptions and Prevalence of Cannabis Use in Women With Inflammatory Bowel Disease of Reproductive Age: A Cross-Sectional Study.. Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology, 7(2), 204-211. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcag/gwad049
MLA
Hossein-Javaheri, Nariman, et al. "Perceptions and Prevalence of Cannabis Use in Women With Inflammatory Bowel Disease of Reproductive Age: A Cross-Sectional Study.." Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcag/gwad049
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Perceptions and Prevalence of Cannabis Use in Women With Inf..." RTHC-05385. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/hossein-javaheri-2024-perceptions-and-prevalence-of
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.