Women’s troubles, girl problems, cramps, the curse of Eve, it has been mislabeled and misunderstood since women got their periods. I never knew it existed until I had a surgeon tell me that I had it. In fact, it wasn’t until 2011 that Dr. John Sampson identified Endometriosis and since then, doctors have been scrambling to keep up.
I used to believe that I was one of those unlucky girls that endured hell during my time of the month. There are many women that I’ve talked to who used to think that having sex is supposed to hurt. Today, we know that pelvic pain can indicate that something else is wrong. However, the fact that cannabis can make a huge difference is still not widely known. Whether it is you or someone you know who suffers from endometriosis, cannabis could be the key to their relief.
What is Endometriosis
To understand the condition, it’s important to understand what causes a monthly menstrual cycle. The lining of the uterus is made up of thick, glandular tissue and provides nursery for a growing fetus. Every month, this tissue thickens and sheds, creating a woman’s period. Endometriosis is a condition where these cells are present outside of it. Like the uterine lining, they build up and shed monthly, causing horrible, monthly recurring pain. In addition to that, these cells multiply and form large spots.
Causes of Endometriosis
The cause of this condition is still unknown. However, there have been a number of parallels between the women who experience it. These include:
- Family history of pelvic pain
- Surgical trauma to the pelvic area
- Retrograde Menstration
- Immune system disorders
- Lymphatic System disorders
- Sexual trauma
Issues caused by endometriosis
Diagnosing something like endometriosis or even treating it is really tough to do because it acts on a microscopic level. If you have a visible spot, the symptoms are likely so prevalent that it would be hard to ignore. Cramping during your period Is very normal, however, keep an eye out for these signs and symptoms. When in doubt, go to your doctor. If your doctor won’t listen, get a referral to a gynecologist.
- Extremely painful periods including right before and after menstruation.
- Painful and/ or nausea during sex
- Infertility
- Lower back pain that is affected by your monthly cycle
- Excessive bleeding and or bleeding between periods
- Painful bowel movements and urination during your period
Current Treatments
Considering this condition has been identified within the last 10 years, it’s safe to say that a lot of old school doctors know little about it. Treating a condition like endometriosis is tough to do because there are no guarantees when you’re removing something microscopic. Unfortunately, the approach taken is pain management but localized surgery up to a full hysterectomy, is often the end result.
Living with it…
Before my hysterectomy, this condition was making my life hell and my sex life non-existent. I found a way of explaining what it felt like that men could really relate to, the puking sensation men feel when they get kicked in the balls. I knew something was wrong when I started to feel that puking sensation anytime something entered inside me. When I first noticed, I started to feel it sometimes when I was having sex. By the time I had my hysterectomy, I couldn’t even handle using a tampon without feeling like I was going to vomit.
Cannabis Relief
By the time I started using cannabis to treat my endometriosis, it was too far gone to avoid surgery. However, I will never forget how much it helped. Using vaginal suppositories, cannabis lube, edibles and smoking concentrates helped me treat the condition and all of its symptoms. A combination of cannabis products saturating my system, especially before and after sex, helped me live as close to a normal life as possible.
Why cannabis can make such a difference
There has been research done on how estrogen reacts with the endocannabinoid system. It turns out that estrogen can increase sensitivity to THC. The build up of the endometrial lining is governed entirely by spikes of estrogen, so, putting pain relieving medicine in a THC sensitive area makes sense.
Pain Mapping…
Before my surgery, I had to meet with my OBGYN for pre-op pain mapping. Basically, the doctor literally pokes around up there, trying to recreate the pain you experience and then, they measure how severe and large the spot it. Not only does it really hurt, the experience can be very traumatic.
I took as many edibles as I could before going to the appointment but afterwards, I was in a world of hurt. My friends who picked me up took me to Cannabis Culture to be able to relax and have some dabs. Luckily, I ran into my friends at Everlasting Extracts. My buddy took one look at me and handed me a dab of pink kush live resin. I inhaled it and exhaled all the pain in my body. I can never forget how that one toke made a complete and instant difference.
If you are struggling with endometriosis and haven’t tried cannabis, you should consider it. Using cannabis doesn’t ever have to mean getting high. There are topical options as well as CBD products available. You owe it to yourself to try it because women’s troubles is not something to ignore, it is something to treat. When it comes to endometriosis, cannabis is great medicine.
References
Fertil Steril 2011;95:13–6. 2011 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine
The Clinical Significance of Endocannabinoids in Endometriosis Pain Management
Jerome Bouaziz, Alexandra Bar On, Daniel S. Seidman, and David Soriano
Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research 2017 2:1, 72-80