P___’s Question: I have chronic neuropathies and I’m about to try cannabis for the first time. I heard that the risk of adverse effects is higher for women. Could you please comment?
Uwe’s Answer:
I’d like to refer you to a study conducted by a team of Israeli researchers (J. Aviram et al., 2022) who surveyed 429 patients with chronic pains and found that women in this patient population were indeed more susceptible to report cannabis-related adverse effects than males. However, they also note that these differences could be the result of other than gender-based factors such as cannabinoid content, ratios between them as well as the presence of specific terpene profiles.
In more general terms, gender-related aspects are diverse, complex, and rarely included in (endo)cannabinoid research. However, those studies that looked at sex or gender differences found a potential for gender-related concerns associated primarily with the use of THC and, to a lesser degree, with CBD. For example, THC may influence hormone profiles with potential relevance to male and female fertility, menopause, libido, acne, baldness, and hirsutism. As such, it is essential for individuals, especially those trying to conceive, to consult with their healthcare provider before using THC for chronic pain management. More research is needed to fully understand the gender-specific implications of THC (or other cannabis constituents) use on fertility and beyond.
Another gender-based difference noted in the scientific literature focused on developing cannabis use disorder (CUD). While CUD occurred in about 10% of chronic users and was higher in males than females, females were to develop CUD in a shorter timeframe than males (L. Greaves et al., 2020).
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