Cannabis for Endometriosis: Why Your Doctor Isn’t Understanding You

Written By Monica Ramirez

If you live with endometriosis, chances are you’ve experienced pain that is difficult to manage. Many doctors treat this with skepticism which can cause immense frustration for patients, to say the least. When people dealing with endometriosis pain find little relief in conventional treatments, they often turn to cannabis.

So why the disconnect between doctors and patients? And why does cannabis often work when nothing else seems to?

What Is Endometriosis, Really?

Endometriosis isn’t just “bad period pain.” It’s a chronic inflammatory condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus — often on ovaries, bowel, and pelvic organs. It causes severe pelvic pain, bloating, fatigue, and in some cases, infertility.

Diagnosis is notoriously delayed, often taking 7–10 years, and treatment options (like hormonal therapy, painkillers, and surgery) don’t always work — or aren’t tolerated long-term.

Why Cannabis?

Cannabis contains compounds — THC and CBD — that interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), a network that helps regulate pain, inflammation, and immune responses. In endometriosis, this system appears to be out of balance, which may explain why cannabis helps.

Patients often report:

  • Fewer cramps and less pelvic pain

  • Reduced inflammation and bloating

  • Better sleep and mood

  • Lower use of pain meds like opioids and NSAIDs

One large Australian study even found that cannabis was one of the most effective self-management tools among people with endometriosis.

So Why Isn’t Your Doctor Listening?

1. It Doesn’t Show Up Clearly on Scans

Unless a patient undergoes surgery, endometriosis is hard to confirm definitively. Imaging might miss it entirely, leading doctors to say “everything looks fine” — even when the pain is anything but.

2. Medical Gender Bias

Studies have shown that women’s pain is more likely to be dismissed or downplayed. There’s a long history of describing female patients as “emotional,” “anxious,” or “exaggerating.” This bias is still deeply embedded in parts of medicine today.

3. A Narrow View of Pain

Many doctors are trained to focus on what they can see, test, or measure. Chronic pain — especially gynecological pain — often doesn’t fit into that model. When the tools don’t show it, some providers simply don’t believe it.

4. Stigma Around Self-Advocacy

When you ask questions, suggest alternative treatments, or bring up medical cannabis, you may be seen as “non-compliant” or “difficult.” In truth, you’re advocating for yourself — and that takes strength.

Why Doctors Are Still Hesitant Towards Cannabis?

Even with growing evidence, many doctors remain resistant to cannabis-based care. Here’s why:

  • Lack of training: Most weren’t educated about the ECS or cannabis therapeutics in medical school.

  • Outdated stigma: Some still see cannabis as recreational, not medicinal.

  • Fear of liability: Not all doctors feel confident prescribing cannabis due to legal or regulatory uncertainty.

  • Systemic inertia: Medicine moves slowly — especially when led by institutions rooted in conservative practices.

What You Can Do

  • Track your symptoms: Journaling your cycle, pain, and cannabis use gives you data that doctors can’t ignore.

  • Find a cannabis-informed practitioner: Some clinics specialise in cannabinoid medicine and can support you holistically.

  • Educate yourself: Understanding how cannabis works in the body helps you advocate with clarity and confidence.

  • Trust your experience: You are the expert of your own body. Don’t let anyone make you feel otherwise.

If you have endometriosis, you’re not imagining your pain. And you’re not wrong for seeking relief beyond conventional medicine.

Cannabis may not be the right solution for everyone, but for many living with endometriosis, it offers a lifeline — one that’s finally being backed by research, even if some doctors haven’t caught up yet.

It’s your body. You have a right to be heard — and to heal in the way that works best for you. Find out more on how to access our cannabis on our dispensary page.

Monica Ramirez