Medical Cannabis May Ease Endometriosis Symptoms for Some Australians, but Cost Limits Access

For some Australians living with endometriosis, prescribed cannabis products are being used to manage pain and other symptoms—but a survey suggests that the cost of legal treatment often undermines access.

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows elsewhere in the body. It can cause chronic pelvic pain, painful menstruation, nausea, fatigue, and mental-health effects. There is currently no cure, so treatment generally focuses on controlling symptoms and reducing their impact on daily life. The World Health Organization’s overview of endometriosis outlines the condition’s symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.

The findings come from a 2024 survey published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. In the study of cannabinoid-based medicinal product use among Australians with endometriosis, researchers analyzed responses from 192 people who had used either prescribed cannabis products, illicit cannabis, or both to manage endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain-related symptoms.

Most respondents who used prescribed products obtained them through a specialized cannabis clinic rather than their usual general practitioner. THC-predominant oils and dried-flower products were commonly reported, and 77% of people using prescribed cannabis said they were taking two or more products. The median reported spending on legal cannabinoid medicines was approximately 300 Australian dollars per month, in addition to consultation and prescription-related costs.

Participants generally described symptom improvements after using cannabis products. Reported benefits included relief from chronic pelvic pain, menstrual pain, nausea, sleep difficulties, and anxiety or depression. Some respondents also said they had reduced their use of conventional medicines, including opioids and hormonal treatments.

Those reports describe patients’ experiences; they do not establish that cannabis caused the improvements. The study was an anonymous, cross-sectional survey based on self-reported information, and participants were recruited largely through medicinal-cannabis advocacy channels. It therefore cannot determine how effective cannabis would be in a broader endometriosis population or how it compares with established treatments in a controlled clinical trial.

Cost was the clearest barrier. Among respondents with prescriptions, 76.1% said they had reduced their dose because of expense, while 42.9% reported supplementing prescribed treatment with illicit cannabis. Legal products were reported to cost substantially more than illicit cannabis, creating a situation in which some patients had prescriptions but still could not consistently afford the recommended amount.

The survey also highlighted the limited public subsidy available for these products. In Australia, most medicinal-cannabis products are considered unapproved medicines and are accessed through regulatory pathways such as the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s Special Access Scheme or Authorised Prescriber Scheme. The Australian Department of Health’s guidance on medicinal-cannabis access explains these arrangements and notes that most products are not assessed by the TGA for safety, quality, or effectiveness before access.

Participants expressed support for adding cannabinoid medicines to Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and for greater private-insurance reimbursement. However, the country’s current Australian Living Evidence Guideline for Endometriosis says the evidence for potential benefits and harms remains too limited to make a specific recommendation for medicinal cannabis. It advises clinicians to discuss cannabis use openly, while taking account of prescribing rules and legal requirements.

The survey offers important insight into why people with endometriosis seek cannabis when existing symptom control is inadequate. It also shows that patient-reported relief does not automatically translate into affordable or evidence-based care. Larger and better-controlled clinical studies are needed to clarify the benefits, risks, appropriate products, and dosing of cannabis for endometriosis-related pain.