Women with menstrual cramps in New York state could have a new option for easing their monthly pains: medical marijuana. 
 
 The New York State Assembly is considering a bill to add dysmenorrhea — the medical name for menstrual cramps — to the list of conditions for which doctors can legally authorize a patient to use medical marijuana. Under the state's law, only patients with the specific medical conditions named in the law can access medical marijuana in New York, according to Newsweek. Cancer, HIV and multiple sclerosis are among the conditions already on the list. 
 
 Severe cases of dysmenorrhea can be "debilitating," New York State Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal wrote in the bill. "Medical marijuana can alleviate many of the painful effects of dysmenorrhea." [Healing Herb? Marijuana Could Treat These 5 Conditions] 
 
 The bill, which still has several legislative hurdles to overcome, is supported by actress Whoopi Goldberg, who sells a line of medical marijuana products that are marketed specifically for period pain, Newsweek reported. 
 
 But does marijuana really help with menstrual pain? 
 
 There haven't been any rigorous studies that have shown that there's a benefit to using marijuana for menstrual cramps, said Dr. Charles Pollack, an emergency-medicine physician at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and the director of the university's Lambert Center for the Study of Medicinal Cannabis and Hemp. 
 
 And though there are good data showing that marijuana can help people with neuropathic pain, the pain from menstrual cramps doesn't fall into this category, Pollack said. Neuropathic pain is pain related to the nerves, such as a pinched or inflamed nerve. 
 
 That said, "it's not out of the realm of the possible" that the drug could be helpful for women with menstrual cramps, Pollack told Live Science. 
 
 This is because the female reproductive tract, and, in particular, the uterus and the lining of the uterus, has an "abundance" of endocannabinoid receptors, Pollack said. The chemicals in marijuana that are responsible for its effects in the body are called cannabinoids, and can bind to these receptors. 
 
 The discovery of these receptors, for example, has led to some researchers thinking that marijuana may help women with endometriosis, Pollack said. Endometriosis is an often painful disorder in which the tissue that normally lines a woman's uterus, called the endometrium, grows outside the uterus, the Mayo Clinic says. One area of research is considering whether marijuana may help both with easing the pain of endometriosis and slowing the growth of endometrial tissue, Pollack said. 
 
 It's also possible that women with painful menstrual cramps benefit from the anxiolytic, or anti-anxiety, effects of marijuana, Pollack added. 
 
 But because of the lack of data, it's difficult to draw conclusions about the drug's effects. "There's just a paucity of data in this regard," Pollack said. And the drug may have downsides: Although it's "exceedingly unlikely" that someone will die from an overdose of marijuana, there are still questions about the possible effects of regular, long-term use, he said. 
 
 Dr. Ranit Mishori, a professor of family medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine, told Live Science in 2016 that, "with the exception of a study in 1800s, I see no evidence in the medical literature that supports" the use of marijuana for menstrual cramps. 
 
 Although there are barriers to studying marijuana in the U.S., "the alternative isn't to recommend a treatment in the absence of evidence," Mishori said. 
 
 Originally published on Live Science. ||||| The pain creeps in slow and unexpectedly. Initially, it’s a subtle discomfort, like the prick of a needle stabbing away at your stomach. As the minutes pass by, the discomfort can develop into a crippling pain, making even simple tasks such as standing up straight seem utterly unbearable. 
 
 That dreadful feeling has a name: Dysmenorrhea—the medical term for severe period pain commonly referred to as cramps. And it’s something experienced every month by hundreds of women all across America. 
 
 While over the counter medicine like Midol can be helpful for many women, some 20 percent of women who suffer from cramps caused by their menstrual cycles each month experience such extreme dysmenorrhea that they can’t perform daily actives like getting out of bed and going to work, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. 
 
 Now, relief may soon be on the way. The New York Assembly's Health Committee passed an initiative Tuesday that would add dysmenorrhea to the list of conditions necessary to qualify for medical marijuana use. If it becomes law, everyday women suffering from intolerable period pain could have legal access to pot with a medical marijuana card. 
 
 “This is a woman’s health issue and for years women have suffered in silence. There’s Midol. You can take Advil, but really nothing more,” Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, a Democrat, who introduced the bill, told Newsweek during a phone call Wednesday. “Men have really been [the ones] who’ve run state houses, governorships, presidencies, and some issues that are just about women have gotten shortchanged and that’s because it’s not in men’s everyday consciousness.” 
 
 The measure, called Assembly Bill 582, was approved in a 21-2 vote by the committee and it’s headed to the Assembly floor next. It would also need the OK from the New York Senate and Governor Andrew Cuomo. 
 
 The bill’s only pushback so far came from two Republican Assembly members—both men—but Rosenthal is confident that members of the Senate would be more understanding of how helpful medical marijuana, a drug that people suffering from various types of chronic pain can legally use in New York, can be for women during menstruation, too. 
 
 “There is some mild discomfort for some, but some women can’t leave their bed for a week,” Rosenthal said. “People are starting to understand that medical marijuana is a useful tool to relieve suffering and women’s suffering from severe menstrual cramps.” 
 
 In New York, only people suffering from cancer, HIV infection or AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury with spasticity, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathy, Huntington's disease or chronic pain can get access to medical marijuana—not everyday women who naturally have periods and experience the pain that sometimes comes along with it each month. 
 
 Rosenthal has become known as a champion for women’s issues. She worked last year to get a bill that removed sales taxes on feminine hygiene products signed into New York law, and she’s at the helm of passing another bill that would make feminine hygiene products free for women in prisons, homeless shelters and schools. For Assembly Bill 582, she is getting some extra help from a highly regarded medical marijuana advocate, who just so happens to be a well-known movie star and co-host of the daytime talk show, The View. 
 
 “I met with a force of a woman named Whoopi Goldberg, and she’s been a longtime expert on medical marijuana. I met with her and spoke with her, and she’s been passionate about easing women’s suffering by using medical marijuana,” Rosenthal said. “I thought this was a great opportunity to create an impact with a passionate supporter and help women access something new that can help relieve what cripples some of them during that time of the month.” 
 
 Goldberg introduced her own line of medical cannabis products in 2016 to combat menstrual pain with cannabis industry leader Maya Elisabeth. Under their Whoopi & Maya brand, women in legal marijuana states are able to receive pain relief with a cannabis bath soak, cannabidiol (CBD) and beeswax-infused body balm and organic and raw cocoa infused with either THC or CBD. 
 
 Although the bill has a few more steps to go before women could potentially be prescribed medical marijuana for cramps in New York, Rosenthal said the high support so far for the measure is a good sign it could pass into legislation. 
 
 “I think we’re a progressive state. It did take 20 years to get medical marijuana to be the law,” she said,” but we’re going to work hard to get it passed.” 
 
 “And I’m sure many women will vouch for what they have to go through each month.” ||||| Dysmenorrhea may begin soon after menarche, where it often improves with age, or it may originate later in life after the onset of an underlying causative condition. 
 
 Dysmenorrhea is very common, and it may be severe enough to interfere with daily activities in up to 20 percent of women. 
 
 Dysmenorrhea is more likely in women who smoke, and in women with an earlier age at menarche or longer duration of menstruation. 
 
 Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce moderate to severe pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea compared with placebo, but we do not know whether any one nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug is superior to the others. 
 
 Simple analgesics such as aspirin and paracetamol may reduce pain in the short term, although few studies have been of good quality. 
 
 The Chinese herbal remedy toki-shakuyaku-san and an Iranian herbal remedy made from saffron, celery, and anise may reduce pain compared with placebo. We do not know whether Chinese herbal remedies are beneficial compared with placebo, but there is limited evidence that they may be effective compared with other treatments for dysmenorrhea. 
 
 Thiamine and vitamin E may reduce pain compared with placebo in young women with primary dysmenorrhea. 
 
 Combined oral contraceptives may be more effective at reducing pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea; however, few studies have been of good quality. 
 
 Topical heat (about 102°F [39°C]) may be as effective as ibuprofen and more effective than paracetamol at reducing pain. 
 
 High-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) may reduce pain compared with sham treatment, but seems to be less effective than ibuprofen. 
 
 Acupressure may be more effective than sham or no treatment at relieving dysmenorrhea. 
 
 Spinal manipulation may be no more effective than placebo at reducing pain after one month in women with primary dysmenorrhea. 
 
 Relaxation may be better than no treatment at relieving dysmenorrhea. 
 
 We do not know whether acupuncture, fish oil, vitamin B 12 , magnets, or intrauterine progestogens reduce dysmenorrhea. 
 
 Surgical interruption of pelvic nerve pathways is not beneficial in treating dysmenorrhea, and may be associated with adverse effects including constipation. 
 
 Enlarge Print Clinical Questions What are the effects of treatments for primary dysmenorrhea? Beneficial Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (other than aspirin) Likely to be beneficial Acupressure Aspirin and paracetamol Behavioral interventions (relaxation) Contraceptives (combined oral) Herbal remedies other than toki-shakuyaku-san Thiamine Toki-shakuyaku-san (herbal remedy) Topical heat (about 102°F [39°C]) Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (high-frequency stimulation only; effects of low-frequency stimulation remain unclear) Vitamin E Unknown effectiveness Acupuncture Fish oil Magnets Progestogens (intrauterine) Vitamin B 12 Unlikely to be beneficial Spinal manipulation Likely to be ineffective or harmful Surgical interruption of pelvic nerve pathways Clinical Questions What are the effects of treatments for primary dysmenorrhea? Beneficial Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (other than aspirin) Likely to be beneficial Acupressure Aspirin and paracetamol Behavioral interventions (relaxation) Contraceptives (combined oral) Herbal remedies other than toki-shakuyaku-san Thiamine Toki-shakuyaku-san (herbal remedy) Topical heat (about 102°F [39°C]) Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (high-frequency stimulation only; effects of low-frequency stimulation remain unclear) Vitamin E Unknown effectiveness Acupuncture Fish oil Magnets Progestogens (intrauterine) Vitamin B 12 Unlikely to be beneficial Spinal manipulation Likely to be ineffective or harmful Surgical interruption of pelvic nerve pathways 
 
 Definition Dysmenorrhea is painful menstrual cramps of uterine origin. It is commonly divided into primary dysmenorrhea (pain without organic pathology) and secondary dysmenorrhea (pelvic pain associated with an identifiable pathologic condition, such as endometriosis or ovarian cysts). The initial onset of primary dysmenorrhea usually occurs within six to 12 months after menarche, when ovulatory cycles are established. Pain duration is commonly eight to 72 hours and is usually associated with the onset of menstrual flow. Secondary dysmenorrhea can also occur at any time after menarche, but may arise as a new symptom during a woman's fourth and fifth decades, after the onset of an underlying causative condition. In this review we only consider studies of women with primary dysmenorrhea. However, the results may also be generalizable to women with secondary dysmenorrhea. Studies of women with endometriosis, adenomyosis, pelvic congestion, and fibroids may also examine dysmenorrhea/pain as an outcome. 
 
 Incidence and Prevalence Variations in the definition of dysmenorrhea make it difficult to determine precise prevalence rates. Studies tend to report on prevalence in adolescent girls, and the type of dysmenorrhea is not always specified. Adolescent girls tend to have a higher prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea than older women, because primary dysmenorrhea can improve with age (see Prognosis). Secondary dysmenorrhea rates may be lower in adolescents, because onset of causative conditions may not yet have occurred. Therefore, the results from prevalence studies of adolescents may not always be extrapolated to older women, or be accurate estimates of the prevalence of secondary dysmenorrhea. However, various types of studies have found a consistently high prevalence in women of different ages and nationalities. One systematic review (search date 1996) of the prevalence of chronic pelvic pain, summarizing community and hospital surveys from developed countries, estimated prevalence to be 45 to 95 percent. A second systematic review of studies in developing countries (search date 2002) found that 25 to 50 percent of adult women, and about 75 percent of adolescents, experienced pain with menstruation, with 5 to 20 percent reporting severe dysmenorrhea or pain that prevents them from participating in their usual activities. A third systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence rates among high-quality studies with samples representative of the general worldwide population (search date 2004) found that prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 59 percent (95% confidence interval, 49 to 71 percent). Prevalence rates reported in the United Kingdom were between 45 and 97 percent for any dysmenorrhea in community-based studies, and between 41 and 62 percent in hospital-based studies. 
 
 Etiology and Risk Factors A systematic review (search date 2004) of cohort and case-control studies concluded that age younger than 30 years, low body mass index, smoking, earlier menarche (younger than 12 years), longer menstrual cycles, heavy menstrual flow, nulliparity, premenstrual syndrome, sterilization, clinically suspected pelvic inflammatory disease, sexual abuse, and psychological symptoms were associated with increased risk of dysmenorrhea. ||||| These crawls are part of an effort to archive pages as they are created and archive the pages that they refer to. That way, as the pages that are referenced are changed or taken from the web, a link to the version that was live when the page was written will be preserved.Then the Internet Archive hopes that references to these archived pages will be put in place of a link that would be otherwise be broken, or a companion link to allow people to see what was originally intended by a page's authors.The goal is to fix all broken links on the web . Crawls of supported "No More 404" sites.
– Ladies in New York may soon be able to turn to pot to turn down the pain from their periods. The state is considering adding menstrual cramps to a list of conditions that could warrant a prescription for medical marijuana, reports Newsweek. A bill that seeks to have dysmenorrhea, the medical term for painful menstrual cramps, added to the list of conditions (which include multiple sclerosis and cancer) passed the New York Assembly's Health Committee late last month and will now head to the Assembly floor. Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, a Democrat who introduced the bill, says dysmenorrhea can be "debilitating," per Live Science, but the condition has long been ignored because it's not in the "everyday consciousness" of men who dominate government. The American Academy of Family Physicians notes 20% of women who experience cramps find it hard to get out of bed or go to work. But "for years women have suffered in silence. There's Midol. You can take Advil, but really nothing more," Rosenthal says. "Medical marijuana can alleviate many of the painful effects," the bill adds. There haven't actually been any modern studies that show marijuana eases menstrual pain. However, a doctor tells Live Science that the uterus and uterine lining have an "abundance" of endocannabinoid receptors, which cannabinoids bind to, so "it's not out of the realm of the possible." Whoopi Goldberg certainly thinks pot can help. Goldberg, who has met with Rosenthal, sells cannabis-infused products designed to alleviate period pain.