Cannabis and Endometriosis: What a Large Patient Survey Found

Patients across three countries shared how they manage a difficult condition.

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition that can cause severe, persistent pain. For many people who live with it, standard treatments don't fully control symptoms and can bring unwelcome side effects of their own. That gap has led researchers — and patients — to look at other options, including cannabis. A large survey from German-speaking countries offers a detailed look at how endometriosis patients themselves are using it.

What the Survey Found

Researchers from the Endometriosis Research Center Charité in Berlin surveyed 912 endometriosis patients across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Of those, 114 reported using cannabis to help manage their symptoms. Among that group, the results were notably positive: patients rated cannabis as the most effective of the self-management strategies they used, giving it a self-rated efficacy of 7.6 out of 10. Around 90% said using cannabis allowed them to reduce their intake of pain medication.

The biggest self-reported improvements were in sleep quality (91%), menstrual pain (90%), and non-cyclic pain (80%). Side effects were generally reported as minimal — increased fatigue was the most common, affecting about 17% of users, while other side effects were each reported by 5% or fewer. Interestingly, even the fatigue was a mixed experience: some patients welcomed it as helping them sleep, while others found it limiting, especially during the day.

Important Context for These Numbers

Those figures are encouraging, but it's important to understand what kind of study this was, because it shapes how much weight the numbers can carry:

• It's a survey, not a clinical trial. The results are patients' own self-reported impressions — how effective cannabis felt — not measured clinical outcomes with a placebo comparison. There's no way to separate a true effect from expectation or other factors.
• How participants were recruited matters. The survey was distributed largely through endometriosis support and advocacy groups on social media. People who found cannabis helpful may be more likely to take part and report on it, which can tilt the results favorably.
• “Most effective” is a specific claim. Cannabis was rated the most effective among the various self-management strategies patients tried — not measured head-to-head against medical treatments.
• Legal context. When the survey was conducted (in 2022), cannabis use was illegal in all three countries, and medical cannabis was rarely prescribed. Most respondents were effectively self-medicating outside a formal medical framework.

What It Adds Up To

None of those caveats make the survey unimportant — patient-reported experience is genuinely valuable, especially for a condition where standard care so often falls short. The findings echo earlier surveys from Australia and Canada, which similarly found cannabis among the self-management approaches patients rated highly for endometriosis pain. The study's authors also note that experiences vary: some users reported reduced anxiety and better mental health, while others noticed symptoms worsen.

The honest takeaway is that cannabis may have a place in a broader, multimodal approach to managing endometriosis — and that this survey is a strong signal that more rigorous research is warranted. The authors call for further studies on the best administration methods, dosage, and THC/CBD balance, and on long-term effects, particularly since most endometriosis patients are women of reproductive age. Anyone considering cannabis for endometriosis should do so in partnership with a knowledgeable healthcare provider, as part of a wider care plan rather than a replacement for one.

Reference: Cannabis use in endometriosis: the patients have their say—an online survey for German-speaking countries. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 2024. Conducted by the Endometriosis Research Center Charité, Berlin.

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. The findings come from a self-reported patient survey. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any treatment decisions.