Medicinal Cannabis in Women’s Health

This book explores the scientific evidence for the medical use of cannabis in the treatment of common conditions affecting women. It canvasses the current state of scientific research into medicinal cannabis for the treatment of these conditions and includes case studies to illustrate how it may be used in clinical practice. The volume is set out in nine chapters. The first chapter introduces the book and discusses some of the history of medicinal cannabis in women’s health and the prohibition of cannabis in the US, the evidence-based medicine approach, and types of research designs. Chapter 2 discusses the endocannabinoid system, the key constituents of cannabis and their therapeutic actions, forms of medicinal cannabis, routes of delivery, and safety aspects associated with medicinal cannabis. Chapters 3 through 8 cover medical conditions that commonly impact women, including stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis, primary dysmenorrhea, menopause symptoms, including insomnia, and osteoarthritis. The structure of each of these chapters follows a similar pattern: a description of the condition, its prevalence, impact and comorbidities, and a brief description of pathophysiology and current treatments. The authors then discuss how the endocannabinoid system is involved, and the scientific evidence that medicinal cannabis may be efficacious. Each chapter closes with a case study. Chapter 9 focuses on some of the clinical issues that are important to consider in treating women and what is needed in terms of research. Medicinal Cannabis in Women’s Health: An Evidence-Based Clinician's Guide will be of great interest to medical practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare practitioners who prescribe medicinal cannabis, are considering prescribing medical cannabis, or simply want to be informed about the evidence base of its use in common conditions facing women.