---
title: Do women believe cannabis helps their PMS or PMDD symptoms? | Niyora
description: Yes, women who use cannabis for PMS or PMDD believe it reduces most of their symptoms. However, very little research exists on whether it actually works or is
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/cannabis-and-symptoms-of-pms-and-pmdd-2017/
---

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- Do women believe cannabis helps their PMS or PMDD symptoms?

Survey study, 2017

# Do women believe cannabis helps their PMS or PMDD symptoms?

Yes, women who use cannabis for PMS or PMDD believe it reduces most of their symptoms. However, very little research exists on whether it actually works or is safe.

 Early or limited evidence

145 women with PMS or PMDD who had used cannabis

## What they did

Researchers surveyed 145 women online who reported having PMS or PMDD and had used cannabis. They asked about their cannabis use frequency, symptoms, and whether they expected cannabis to help their symptoms.

## What they found

Women believed cannabis would relieve most PMS and PMDD symptoms except overeating and food cravings. Women with stronger expectations about cannabis helping used it more often and reported more symptoms.

## What it means for you

Women are using cannabis for PMS and PMDD based on their beliefs about its effects, but we do not yet know if it actually works or is safe. The main limit is this was a very small study of only women who already use cannabis, so we cannot tell whether cannabis is effective for PMS or PMDD.

145

women with PMS or PMDD using cannabis

## About the study

Original title Cannabis and symptoms of PMS and PMDD Authors Melissa N. Slavin, Eliza Barach, Stacey L. Farmer et al. Journal Addiction Research & Theory Year 2017 Study design Survey study Participants 145 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2017.1294165](https://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2017.1294165)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)

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