For many years, people have used marijuana for all sorts of conditions, including those related to fertility and the reproductive system. With the increases in cannabis legalization taking place across the USA and in other countries around the world, scientists are making even more discoveries about the importance of the endocannabinoid system in the reproductive process. Here we will explore the latest findings on whether or not cannabis affects the menstrual cycle and a woman’s period.
Marijuana And Period Cramps
In cultures around the globe, for generations, people have used cannabis as a component of the herbal medicines that have been administered to women suffering from menstrual cramping. In fact, it’s even been noted that Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom was given marijuana to soothe her period cramps.
In more current times, women have continued to use cannabis to help deal with their period cramps. However, there haven’t been any formal studies done that would indicate that these findings are scientifically proven.
And, since CBD, as well as THC, has been proven to reduce inflammation some women may find that CBD alone is enough to reduce their cramp symptoms while menstruating.
Marijuana and PMS
Ask any woman who has suffered from PMS and they’ll tell you that their symptoms can be quite an inconvenience. Due to fluctuations in hormone levels, for many women the premenstrual phase can mean they are in for several days of uncomfortable symptoms simply because progesterone and other hormones significantly increase during this phase while others decrease.
PMS, which is the abbreviation for “premenstrual syndrome” refers to a group of symptoms that can show up a few days before a woman’s menstruation begins. Some of the most common symptoms that women who experience PMS have reported include:
- Bloating
- Cramps
- Irritability
- Headaches
In the past, doctors may have prescribed additional progesterone to women suffering from especially bad PMS symptoms, but more recent research has shown that doing so was largely ineffective.
Moodiness and marijuana
During the menstrual cycle, women experience a huge fluctuation in the production of hormones which can lead to frequent mood changes. This emotional roller coaster of imbalances in hormones can leave women feeling stressed out, depressed, or anxious. Luckily, cannabis has been shown to compensate for mood changes like these, helping women deal with these side effects with much more ease.
More marijuana while menstruating
If you are a regular user of cannabis, you may notice that you require more marijuana than usual during your period of menstruation. This is due to fluctuating estrogen levels during the time just before and during your period. Estrogen is at its highest during ovulation, and then it dips lower during PMS and the menstrual cycle. When there is less estrogen in the body, it takes more work to break down THC, resulting in higher levels being required to reach the desired effect.
