CBD and Menopause

Menopause is not something that women talk about openly in society and sometimes don’t even talk to each other about it. And, please, read the whole blog article, because we have saved a dessert for the closing.

Unfortunately, we are faced with the fact that the medical system is often unprepared to deal with menopausal symptoms. Previous generations of women have been silent about “changes” in their bodies, trying to live with it and deal with it by themselves. The medical system is only now waking up to the needs of peri – and postmenopausal women. So, like many others, you are probably looking for support from more natural and the best herbal remedies – such as CBD oil.

Most of us don’t think much about menopause until we’re on the verge of age – unfortunately, unprepared to deal with its many symptoms. Some of us may not even recognize these symptoms in the early stages of perimenopause. But the sooner we notice and respond proactively to the changes that are taking place in our bodies, the better our health will be in the future.

As a normal and inevitable part of aging, menopause is a transitional period that can cause a wide range of symptoms, many of which are different and respond so differently to female organs. It usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 and lasts for about seven years.

During menopause, estrogen levels fall sharply, causing a range of symptoms. However, studies show that Cannabis and the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) may help to neutralize some of these symptoms.

Studies show that CBD can have a variety of health benefits, from relieving pain to treating depression and anxiety, and possibly many other menopausal symptoms.

In this article, we will explore how menopause can cause inflammation and changes in brain chemistry – what underlies these symptoms, and how CBD and other interventions could help.

It’s more than estrogen: it’s a sea of ​​huge changes.
You are probably already familiar with the story of estrogen: women form millions of immature eggs in their ovaries. From puberty, our body is filled with estrogen every time an egg matures – about once a month. However, over the years, our egg supply shrinks. When the eggs are gone, our periods stop and the estrogen bursts go away, triggering menopause.

But in reality, menopause is not so clear and understandable. In the years before menopause (a period called perimenopause), our estrogen levels fluctuate unpredictably high or low before the last ”entry”. And it’s not just the estrogen that drives the roller coaster – it’s also the hormones that (more or less) have allowed our bodies to function smoothly over the years.

These hormones are also controlled, increased or decreased by countless molecules in our body. The neurochemistry of our brain is changing. Our body increases the production of inflammatory molecules. From brain function to fat accumulation to bone reabsorption, menopause changes the way our body works.

And every woman’s experience during menopause will be unique.
If, because of menopause, you feel that the medical system does not understand your needs, you are probably right. Scientists are still researching why and how a woman’s body changes during menopause.

Does CBD oil work during menopause?
CBD can act on the body in a variety of ways to help relieve menopausal symptoms while interacting with cannabinoid receptors.

How do cannabinoid receptors work?
The endocannabinoid system interacts with cellular receptors in the brain, organs and other tissues throughout the body.

The endocannabinoid system works by interacting with chemical messengers, including CBD.

Numerous studies have shown the positive effects of CBD and CBD-rich oil in reducing the symptoms of menopause during and after menopause.

Researchers believe that this system plays an important role in many body functions and other aspects of health, including mood regulation, immune function, pain, sleep, memory, fertility and reproduction, temperature regulation.

What menopausal symptoms can CBD reduce?
Cannabidiol (CBD) as well as THC and CBD – THC combinations have become major areas of interest, offering potential low – risk treatment options for menopausal symptoms. In fact, women of all ages experience CBD-related relief, including premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Menopause is one of the three main reasons why women use therapeutic Cannabis products – the other two are PMS and sex. The good reputation of

Cannabis and CBD oil in the treatment of peri- and postmenopausal symptoms is not based on evidence alone – scientific studies also show how cannabidiol (CBD) may be useful and helpful in the following menopausal conditions:
⦁ Pain and joint pain
⦁ Mood swings or depression
⦁ Hot flashes
⦁ Weight gain/diabetes
⦁ Urogenital system diseases (vaginal dryness, atrophy and bladder control problems)
⦁ Osteoporosis
⦁ Sleep disturbances / insomnia
⦁ Memory impairment

Although there is no evidence that CBD oil can affect all the symptoms of menopause, it could be helpful in the following cases and here are some of the most common issues that women face during menopause:

Pain and joint pain.
If your body hurts more than before, you shouldn’t blame it so quickly on age – without estrogen, our bodies produce higher levels of inflammatory molecules (specifically, tumor necrosis factor or TNFα). This means that the symptoms of arthritis can increase rapidly during menopause. More than 60% of women between the ages of 40 and 64 suffer from muscle and joint pain.

During menopause, it is more important than ever to reduce inflammation in the body. Cannabidiol has shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. CBD can protect joints from inflammatory damage and lower inflammatory TNFα levels. Low-impact exercises and dietary changes are also great resources in the fight against inflammation.

Mood swings and depression.
It is not uncommon for women to experience anxiety or depression during menopause. Estrogen and progesterone affect the activity of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain – they directly affect mood. As the levels of these hormones become abnormal and eventually decrease, your neurochemistry will change.

If you are emotionally agitated, you should seek the support of a medical professional. They could suggest therapeutic or pharmaceutical solutions. If you supplement your treatment with CBD oil, it turns out that CBD activates serotonin receptors, similar to anti-anxiety drugs. (To learn more about this topic, read our articles on the different ways CBD can help with stress, anxiety, or depression.)
A 2010 study found that CBD works in a similar way as antidepressant drugs do in the brain and reduces the symptoms of depression.

Hot flashes and night sweats.
Hot flashes and night sweats are often joked about, but in reality it is not funny at all. They disrupt women’s sleep cycles and daily routines, which can reduce their quality of life. These “vasomotor” symptoms are caused by altered neurochemistry in the hypothalamus, controlled by a body thermostat. In other words, the body’s cooling system – vasodilation and sweating – is turned on too easily. In a laboratory test, a woman suffering from hot flashes is triggered when the body temperature rises by only 1.5 degrees, while the bodies of other women do not turn on the cooling system unless their temperature rises by at least 3 degrees.

Because hot flashes have a neurochemical base, some SSRIs and antidepressants can help alleviate them. Although there are no studies specifically which have tested CBD’s influence to help relieve hot flashes, its effects on the body’s serotonin system could be one of the reasons why women would want CBD to reduce these symptoms. Other procedures, such as therapy, hypnosis, and relaxation techniques that calm the nervous system, can also affect your neurochemistry and help reduce hot flashes.

Weight gain and diabetes.
Hormones make up our body on so many levels, including controlling our metabolism. Without estrogen, our body burns fewer calories – even while sleeping – and we also burn less fat during exercise. Even if you reduce calories and maintain a stable weight throughout menopause, the ongoing hormonal changes force your body to exchange lean muscle mass for belly fat. This type of fat accumulation unfortunately increases your susceptibility to insulin, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Studies have shown that adults taking Cannabis products have lower insulin levels and a smaller waist circumference. Cannabidiol could contribute to the activation of healthy metabolism genes (via the PPAR-γ receptor). CBD also helps to buffer the activity of natural endocannabinoids, including 2-AG, which is associated with insulin resistance and increased menopause.

Urogenital system diseases (vaginal dryness, atrophy and bladder control problems).
Sexual health and bladder control after menopause may seem like two unrelated things, but they are so closely linked that they are now combined in one medical condition. Estrogen helps the blood to flow to the pelvic region, supplying fresh oxygen to the urinary and genital tissues – keeping things flexible and healthy. After the onset of menopause, women should give their pelvis extra love and attention to maintain a healthy blood flow.

In addition to regular sexual activity, lubricants containing cannabinoids such as CBD or THC – which are also potent vasodilators – can increase blood flow to the pelvic area. It keeps the tissues healthy while moisturizing the vaginal canal. Topical CBD can also fight inflammation, relax muscles, and soothe painful nerves in the vulva and vagina, making CBD infusion supplements and suppositories one of the best companions for women during menopause.

Decreased bone density or osteoporosis.
Our bodies constantly move calcium and other minerals into and out of bones. During perimenopause, the net result is often bone resorption (where more bone is removed than is added), with reduced bone density and an increased risk of fractures. We all have heard about the importance of dietary calcium and physical activity in preventing osteoporosis, but new research suggests that inflammation caused by arthritis or other diseases could be one of the leading causes of bone resorption.

The same anti-inflammatory features that make CBD oil a popular remedy for arthritis symptoms may also prove to be beneficial to bone health.
Some studies have found that CBD interacts with the cannabinoid receptor, which may play a role in reducing bone density. Therefore, CBD could reduce the rate of decline in bone density that may occur during menopause.

Sleep disorders.
Many peri- and postmenopausal women have difficulty sleeping well. And lack of sleep can really deplete people – it causes fatigue and a full range of health problems. Menopause can interfere with sleep in a number of different ways, including night sweats and increased anxiety or depression.

People of all genders and ages report that CBD helps them to have an improved sleep. Whether CBD can help you sleep better at night depends on the source of your disorder. The effects of CBD on neurochemistry and anxiety could help to improve sleep among women who experience insomnia or sleep-disturbing night sweats.
CBD oil may also be useful in the treatment of menopausal sleep disorders.

Memory impairment.
We are so eager to blame age-related memory loss, but even younger women who suffer from surgical menopause can experience rapid memory loss. The region of the brain responsible for memory, learning and emotions is called the hippocampus. Hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, encourage hippocampal neurons to form new compounds, and our memories could suffer without these hormones.

Scientists are actively investigating CBD to promote synaptic plasticity and neuroprosthetics, especially in the hippocampus.

Research report.
Although research on CBD and menopause is limited, there is evidence that CBD products with a high quality can help combat the associated symptoms. This is especially true in combination with other treatment options.

During this time, evidence suggests that ECS affects women’s reproductive organs and processes, playing an important role in regulating temperature, sleep, pain, mood, memory, and affect immune function.

As mentioned, research specifically related to menopause and CBD is currently limited and in its infancy. However, many studies have reported the positive effects of CBD and CBD-rich oil on mood swings, joint pain, and sleep problems, which are also usually associated with hormonal changes during menopause.

Although studies do not specifically address menopause, the results suggest that CBD could alleviate these symptoms regardless of their cause.

Numerous studies have identified the potential effects of CBD on mood, including its characteristic anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects. A 2018 study by Elsevier’s Journal of Affective Disorders found that Cannabis significantly reduced depression, anxiety and stress ratings. It was also reported that women experienced a greater reduction in anxiety than men, and strains with low THC / high CBD were the best at reducing depressive symptoms.

Post-menopausal and post-menopausal joint pain are also commonly reported, as decreased estrogen levels usually lead to higher inflammation. Fortunately, CBD has shown to offer relief from pain and inflammation.
In addition, a 2016 study by the European Journal of Pain found that CBD can help reduce swelling as well as signs of inflammation. The study concluded that

CBD provides potential therapeutic relief when the goal is to treat arthritis pain as well as inflammation, without obvious side effects.

Sleep disorders are also a concern for menopausal and postmenopausal women, with 61% of cases reporting insomnia. In a 2019 study, researchers were interested in whether CBD would improve sleep or anxiety in the clinical population. After providing CBD treatment to 72 adults, the researchers found that anxiety scores decreased among 79% of patients within the first month, and sleep rates improved among 67% of patients during the first month.

The role of the endocannabinoid system in female reproductive tissues.

Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series.

Use of CBD.
For those who are unfamiliar and new to the CBD world, in addition to purchasing a high-quality product, it is also important to optimize the dosage and route of administration for the desired effect.

For help choosing the best products and optimizing your CBD dose, see this article.

You will need to decide how to use CBD oil. There is a wide range of products and reception formats to choose from. In the end, what you decide on will depend on your personal preferences and needs.

Most people who use CBD oil want to have a constant amount of it in their blood, which means CBD oil, capsule or tincture. They work quite quickly and can give an effect for up to 6 hours. Tinctures and drops are great for anyone looking for dose control as it is easy to adjust the amount up or down as needed.

For example, CBD flower or CBD vape oils can be great for immediate relief. With these formats, CBD is absorbed directly through the lungs, for example, it will work within minutes when you go to work. Unfortunately, the effects are not permanent and usually disappear within an hour. If you frequently encounter stress or anxiety-inducing situations, you may want to consider this type of admission as your treatment option.

You can try a small trial to find the right CBD product for you. It may be that a combination of different CBD products is right for you.

When deciding on a starting dose, start with the lowest recommendation for your CBD product. There is no universal standard dose of CBD oil, because how it affects you will largely depend on a variety of factors such as your intake and metabolism. To get a better idea of ​​where to start, take a look at the usage section of our website.

In conclusion.
Researchers are only now beginning to understand how ECS works in relation to menopause and other health-related conditions. However, for those looking for an alternative treatment option, CBD shows great potential.

Although more research is needed, both CBD and CBD-rich oil are thought to address the most problematic symptoms associated with menopause, including sleep disturbances, mood swings, and pain.

If you are approaching menopause or experiencing symptoms right now in your life, now is the most important time, more than ever, to observe the changes that are taking place in your body and life. Be honest with yourself and others about how much support you need.

Estrogen and progesterone put a lot of pressure on your body, and CBD should be just one of the many resources that help you during menopause. However, if any type of CBD oil is combined with positive lifestyle changes, there may be greater synergistic effects.

At the very conclusion.
Many of you will ask: and what now?

This transition is a kind of good thing – to see and appreciate the secret joys of menopause.
Part of being able to live a more balanced life is finally having the time, and now there is a tendency to pay attention to the processes that take place in a woman as a person. It is in this direction that life after menopause really shines. The process you go through during menopause is often a complete reinstallation of the “hardware”, which can lead to a mental transformation. It’s the body’s way to recalibrate so you can now get information you couldn’t get before.

One of the main benefits of menopause: you can no longer get pregnant. Don’t worry about birth control (although condoms with a new sexual partner are reasonable for other reasons). You no longer have to worry about a possible “failure” when dealing with colic, runny nose, or having to send your aging body running after a 2-year-old, not to mention the cost of sending another child to university, even though you should enjoy time and spend your money on what you have been dreaming of.

As an added benefit: your sexual experience can improve dramatically. While some women feel that their sexual desire has decreased, other women believe that as they age, they are able to achieve higher levels of pleasure. Postmenopausal sex may need extra hydration, but it is a small price to pay for everything that is satisfaction.

As another benefit, if you have children, in all probability they are in school or even out of the nest, and you may finally have enough time and resources to turn your attention to yourself. When you’re no longer caught up in monthly moon cycles – the emotional ups and downs, the PMS and the mood swings, what a relief. You become more harmonious and can move to a more balanced way of being.

It is not the end, but the beginning of a new, different and beautiful life!

Related articles:

CBD and Women’s health.

The information on the internet about CBD products and their use will be ambiguous, so we always recommend reading safe and reliable sources. We also use websites related to the Cannabis industry, research and education to prepare information.

The content of this site is for informational purposes only. We are not medical experts and this should not be interpreted as medical advice. Be sure to consult your doctor before undergoing CBD or other treatment.

The chemistry of every human body and brain is unique, so the use of CBD to improve mental as well as physical health does not guarantee results. However, many GWEEPRODUCTS CBD oil users have included it into their daily routine as one of the therapies for improving mental, physical health and quality of life.

References: weedmaps.com; medicalnewstoday.com; cbdorign.com; ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Photo from Unsplash.

Scroll to Top