Can CBD Help with Endometriosis? What the Research Says

Understanding Endometriosis

In the UK today, 1 in 10 women suffer from endometriosis, with 18% of those women reporting to have experienced debilitating pain from it. Common symptoms include chronic pain, menstrual irregularities & in some cases, infertility.

Endometriosis is a neuroinflamitory condition that occurs when tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus, known as the endometrium, begins to grow outside the uterus. This form of inflammation can cause great discomfort and pain, resulting in an often severe impacts on quality of life. The inflammatory response from endometriosis can cause new nerves to grow into the lesions. This increases the sensitivity in the area and often results in the experience of serious chronic pain. The neuroinflamitory response can effect parts of the brain, which is why endometriosis is often associated with mood disorders like anxiety and depression.

How CBD May Help

Many gynaecologists and individuals living with endometriosis report that using CBD oil relieves the pain associated with the condition. This is due to the anti-inflammatory and anti analgesic properties. By ingesting CBD you can modulate inflamitory responses by indirectly influencing CB2 receptors in the immune system. Ingesting CBD can slow the breakdown of endocannabinoids that your body naturally produces such as anandamine which allows them to have a greater anti-inflammatory response throughout the body.

The Role of Cytokines and Inflammation

One key factor that contributes to the initiation, progression, and symptoms of endometriosis is the cytokines present in women with endometriosis. Although cytokines are essential chemical messengers for the immune system that respond to, & regulate inflammation, cykotines such as IL-1β promote the survival rate of endometriotic cells by stimulating their proliferation & reducing apoptosis (cell death). CBD has been shown to suppress pro-inflammatory cykotines such as IL-1β. CBD also prevents the activation of the NLRP3 inflammation, a protein complex that triggers the release of these inflammatory responses.

CBD vs Conventional Treatments

Women with endometriosis are often prescribed opioids or NSAIDs for pain relief but may be vulnerable to overusing these medications, causing drastic side effects. This is one reason why many women choose to use CBD to treat their condition, or to reduce the amount of conventional pharmaceuticals required.

Safety and Medical Advice

CBD may interact with other medications, and in some cases, may interfere with the efficacy of other medications. This is why it always important to check with your medical advisor before switching to, or incorporating, CBD into your treatment plan, especially if you are already using other medication.

Current Research on CBD & Endometriosis

Although the science looks promising for using CBD to treat endometriosis, there is limited clinical studies on the subject, but new clinical trials are underway to assess the direct effects of using CBD to treat endometriosis. One such study is currently being prepared by the University of Edinburgh, under the name ENDOCAN-1. At the time of writing this article, they are still looking to find enough subjects to fill their 100 clinical trial spaces for the study. Link 4 in the references will take you to the study’s online page.