Mike Armour1,2, Justin Sinclair1, Geoff Noller3, Jane Girling4, Maria Larcombe3, Mahmoud A Al-Dabbas1, Erika Hollow5, Deborah Bush6, Neil Johnson7,8,9. 1. NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia. 2. Medical Research Institute of New Zealand (MRINZ), Wellington, New Zealand. 3. Department of General Practice & Rural Health, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. 4. Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. 5. Coastal Health, Greymouth, Aotearoa, New Zealand. 6. Endometriosis New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand. 7. Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia. 8. Auckland Gynaecology Group and Repromed Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. 9. Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Abstract
Background: Endometriosis affects around 10% of women worldwide. Many women with endometriosis struggle with finding adequate pain management, and data from other countries suggest that women use cannabis, either legal or illicit, to help manage their endometriosis symptoms. The aim of this study was to determine use of cannabis where endometriosis was self-identified as a condition that was being treated with cannabis, as well as the impact of cannabis use on the usage on other pharmaceuticals. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of those using cannabis for health-related conditions run between May and July 2019. This article reports on the subset of this larger data set for those reporting they had a diagnosis of endometriosis and/or polycystic ovary syndrome. Data were collected on demographics, modes of cannabis administration, symptoms treated, changes in pharmaceutical usage, and adverse events. Results: Two hundred thirteen valid responses were analyzed. Mean age of respondents was 32 years and 79.8% were current cannabis users. The most common outcomes that cannabis was used for were to improve pain relief (95.5%) and to improve sleep (95.5%). Respondents reported that their symptom was "much better" for pain (81%), sleep (79%), and nausea or vomiting (61%). Over three-quarters (81.4%) indicated cannabis had reduced their normal medication usage. Over half (59%) were able to completely stop a medication, most commonly (66%) analgesics. Opioids (40%) were the most common class of analgesic stopped. Conclusions: Cannabis is reported as an effective intervention for pain and other endometriosis symptoms with potential substitution effects on opioid usage.
Background: Endometriosis affects around 10% of women worldwide. Many women with endometriosis struggle with finding adequate pain management, and data from other countries suggest that women use cannabis, either legal or illicit, to help manage their endometriosis symptoms. The aim of this study was to determine use of cannabis where endometriosis was self-identified as a condition that was being treated with cannabis, as well as the impact of cannabis use on the usage on other pharmaceuticals. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of those using cannabis for health-related conditions run between May and July 2019. This article reports on the subset of this larger data set for those reporting they had a diagnosis of endometriosis and/or polycystic ovary syndrome. Data were collected on demographics, modes of cannabis administration, symptoms treated, changes in pharmaceutical usage, and adverse events. Results: Two hundred thirteen valid responses were analyzed. Mean age of respondents was 32 years and 79.8% were current cannabis users. The most common outcomes that cannabis was used for were to improve pain relief (95.5%) and to improve sleep (95.5%). Respondents reported that their symptom was "much better" for pain (81%), sleep (79%), and nausea or vomiting (61%). Over three-quarters (81.4%) indicated cannabis had reduced their normal medication usage. Over half (59%) were able to completely stop a medication, most commonly (66%) analgesics. Opioids (40%) were the most common class of analgesic stopped. Conclusions: Cannabis is reported as an effective intervention for pain and other endometriosis symptoms with potential substitution effects on opioid usage.
Entities:
Keywords:
New Zealand; cannabis; endometriosis; pelvic pain
Authors: Justin Sinclair; Yasmine Toufaili; Sarah Gock; Amanda G Pegorer; Jordan Wattle; Martin Franke; Muayed A K M Alzwayid; Jason Abbott; David W Pate; Jerome Sarris; Mike Armour Journal: Cannabis Cannabinoid Res Date: 2021-12-31
Authors: Justin Sinclair; Susanne Armour; Jones Asafo Akowuah; Andrew Proudfoot; Mike Armour Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-01-29 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Justin Sinclair; Laura Collett; Jason Abbott; David W Pate; Jerome Sarris; Mike Armour Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-10-26 Impact factor: 3.240