cbd and menopause 

Sept 10th 2020

Commonly known as ‘The Change’, menopause is a stage of life that everyone with a uterus will eventually go through, with some experiencing it earlier than others. This might occur after your last period or can sometimes be brought on by certain kinds of treatments. These can include some breast cancer treatments, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, surgery to remove the ovaries, or potentially be linked to an underlying health condition.

Menopause is a natural part of ageing (repeat that with us!) that tends to occur between the ages of 45 to 55, as a woman’s oestrogen levels decline. Periods generally become less frequent over the course of a few months or years before they stop completely, but sometimes they can stop quite suddenly without a gradual build-up. What is important to note is that menopause is a very personal experience. It’s likely that each individual woman is different to the next, from when they become menopausal through to how this makes them feel and how they deal with their symptoms.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

It’s really common for most women to experience menopausal symptoms – you’re not alone! These can begin months or even years before your periods stop and can last around 4 years after your last period, despite a lot of women experiencing them for much longer. Seems a bit unfair, doesn’t it? Symptoms can range from being relatively mild to quite severe, and can therefore impact your daily activities depending on which end of the scale you get struck with.

As listed by the NHS, common menopausal symptoms include:

– Hot flushes

– Night sweats

– Vaginal dryness and discomfort during sex

– Difficulty sleeping

– Low mood or anxiety

– Reduced sex drive (libido)

– Problems with memory and concentration

So, how exactly can you ease your menopausal symptoms? Women around the world are constantly seeking treatments and remedies to combat their symptoms and enable them to continue with everyday life. This is where CBD can come into play, as it’s widely suggested that CBD is a great way to ease those debilitating menopausal symptoms.

The Endocannabinoid System and Menopause

It’s important to understand the biology behind it all, so strap yourself in for this part. The endocannabinoid system plays an essential role in the human body, regulating our physiology, mood and overall health and wellness. It works as a complex network of cell receptors that help maintain the balance of hormones in our bodies. But when a woman’s natural cycle begins to slow down, major changes begin happening in their endocannabinoid production. Oestrogen is essential in activating the endocannabinoid system, regulating emotional responses and relieving anxiety, but during menopause oestrogen levels drop. This lack of endocannabinoid activity therefore results in a poor ability to react to those feelings of being stressed or anxious.

The ‘bliss molecule’, otherwise known as anandamide, is one of the primary endocannabinoids, affected by shifts in oestrogen production. When taking CBD, it works with these receptors and in turn acts as a natural, mild antidepressant. It is thanks to our endocannabinoid receptors that cannabis molecules, like CBD, are able to create that ever-so-essential feeling of calm that we all lust after (particularly when going through the turbulent journey from menstruation to menopause.) Got that? Phew.

How can CBD help ease the symptoms of menopause?

Sleep

The difficulty of getting a good night’s sleep is one of the most common menopausal symptoms. This can be made even worse when accompanied by other demanding symptoms, like stress, anxiety and hot flushes, leading you to feel tired and restless the following day. Using CBD before bed may allow you to relax both your body and mind, hopefully enabling you to improve both your quality and quantity of sleep.

Mood swings and anxiety

Frequent mood swings are also something the majority of women will experience during menopause which are often down to hormonal changes. With its ability to communicate with the endocannabinoid system, CBD could help your body handle those mood swings, improving your mood and helping you to feel more calm and relaxed.

Pain

Pain is a relatively common occurrence throughout menopause; this can vary from joint pains, breast pain, headaches, inflammation – the list goes on. CBD is said to be an effective anti-inflammatory, and therefore might be helpful in reducing these pains and inflammation and allowing you to get on comfortably with everyday life.

Hormonal Imbalance

Throughout menopause there is likely to be fluctuations in the levels of various hormones in your body, like cortisol, prolactin and of course oestrogen (this being the most affected). Any changes in hormone levels can affect you and your body in various ways, as well as contributing to those awful night sweats that can disrupt your sleep pattern and quality. This can ultimately all add up to make you feel even more unwell. The good news is, when the cannabinoid from CBD interacts with your endocannabinoid system, it might help regulate the hormonal imbalance in your body and the night sweats that accompany this. So if you suffer with this, CBD could be a useful method to help combat it.

Digestion

During menopausal bloating, inflammation and cramps can occur that are similar to those you experience when having a period (and we know how intense those blighters can get). All of the changes that are happening within your body can have a significant effect on your digestion, potentially leading to more serious issues, like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The use of CBD in this case might be able to aid in reducing any inflammation, perhaps that caused by IBS, as well as potentially improving your digestion and reducing chances of bloating.

Vaginal dryness and sex drive

On top of everything else you may experience during menopause, vaginal dryness is an additional inconvenience that can lead to unpleasant sensations and pain during sex. (Can we not catch a break?) Oestrogen levels are responsible for good blood circulation, so when these levels drop during menopause, blood circulation becomes poor. This can lead to vaginal dryness as well as possible insufficient amounts of cervical mucus. Not only can CBD help you feel more relaxed, it is also believed to increase blood circulation. CBD could therefore indirectly reduce the area of dryness and feelings of discomfort whilst hopefully boosting your sex drive, so you can have better, more comfortable sex.