Cannabis and Vulvodynia Symptoms: A Preliminary Report

Medical marijuana has a long history of use as an analgesic for chronic pain disorders, including dyspareunia (pain during intercourse), a hallmark of the rare chronic pain disorder vulvodynia. Many women’s health topics remain under investigated. Few studies address cannabis’s potential to treat vulvodynia symptoms despite their dramatic impact on quality of life. Women who had used cannabis and who reported experiencing vulvodynia symptoms (N = 38) completed an online survey assessing symptoms, expectancies regarding cannabis-associated relief from vulvodynia symptoms, cannabis use, and cannabis-related problems. Generally, women expected cannabis to have moderate to large effects on vulvodynia symptoms (d = .63-1.19). Nevertheless, women expected greater relief for burning/stabbing pain than for itching and pain associated with tampon insertion, as well greater relief for dyspareunia than for pain associated with tampon insertion. Those whose symptoms were worse expected more relief from cannabis treatment. Expectations of cannabis-induced relief did not increase frequency of use or problems. These data support the idea that further work is warranted, including placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials to rule out any placebo effects and identify potential adverse side effects from a cannabis treatment for vulvodynia.

Cannabis use preferences in women with myofascial pelvic pain: A cross-sectional study

Myofascial tenderness is present in most chronic pelvic pain conditions and causes significant distress to patients. Treatment is challenging and often not curative. Cannabis is often used for self-management of chronic pelvic pain. However, we do not know which concentrations and routes of administration are most acceptable to users. We aimed to investigate patterns and willingness of cannabis product use among both habitual users and non-users with myofascial pelvic pain (MPP), to inform therapeutic development.

Cannabinoid exposure in adolescent female rats induces transgenerational effects on morphine conditioned place preference in male offspring.

Authors: John J Byrnes, Nicole L Johnson, Marian E Schenk, Elizabeth M Byrnes
Journal of Psychopharmacology, October 2012

In the United States, marijuana is one of the drugs most abused by adolescents, with females representing a growing number of users. In previous studies, treatment of adolescent female rats with morphine significantly altered brain reward systems in future offspring. As both c…

The CB(2) cannabinoid receptor regulates human sperm cell motility.

Authors: Ekaitz Agirregoitia, Arkaitz Carracedo, Nerea Subirán, Asier Valdivia, et al
Fertility and Sterility, 15 March 2010

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the expression and distribution of cannabinoid receptors in human sperm cells and evaluate the effects of activation of receptors by specific agonists and antagonists, with a special emphasis on the CB(2) receptor. DESIGN: We performed expression assays f…

Cannabis and breastfeeding.

Authors: Aurélia Garry, Virginie Rigourd, Ammar Amirouche, Valérie Fauroux, Sylvie Aubry, Raphaël Serreau
Journal of Toxicology, 2009

Cannabis is a drug derived from hemp plant, Cannabis sativa, used both as a recreational drug or as medicine. It is a widespread illegal substance, generally smoked for its hallucinogenic properties. Little is known about the adverse effects of postnatal cannabis exposure thro…

Interplay between endocannabinoids, steroids and cytokines in the control of human reproduction.

Authors: Natalia Battista, N. Pasquariello, M. Di Tommaso, Mauro Maccarrone
Journal of Neuroendocrinology, May 2008

The use of marijuana, which today is the most used recreational drug, has been demonstrated to affect adversely reproduction. Marijuana smokers, both men and women, show impaired fertility, owing to defective signalling pathways, aberrant hormonal regulation, or wrong timing d…