Alternaleaf, a UK-based medical cannabis clinic, has launched the country’s first women’s health service dedicated to cannabis-based treatments for gynaecological and hormonal conditions.
The new unit, led by the company’s Medical Director and Pharmacist Nabila Chaudhri, aims to address the ‘gender care gap’ as increasing numbers of women seek alternatives to conventional painkillers and long NHS waiting times.
A team of gynaecologists and women’s health specialists will focus on conditions such as endometriosis and perimenopause-related symptoms, including anxiety and depression.
According to Alternaleaf, the number of female patients has grown by 50% every three months over the past year.
Chaudhri said: “We’ve seen dramatically increasing numbers of patients coming to us to manage endometriosis, heavy periods and perimenopause symptoms, many of whom feel dismissed by doctors elsewhere or reject strong painkillers due to disruptive side effects.
“As Medical Director, and as a woman who has experienced medical misogyny myself, I wanted to ensure our approach to women’s health was robust, so women know they will be taken seriously by clinicians trained in gynaecology, perimenopause, menopause and chronic pain.”
NHS gynaecology waiting lists have more than doubled since 2020, with around 630,000 women waiting for care.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) recently found that almost 90% of healthcare professionals believe long waits are harming patients’ quality of life, while 88% of patients said their symptoms have worsened. Endometriosis still takes an average of eight years to diagnose.
A viable alternative to opioids
Alternaleaf says many patients seek the treatment after unsatisfactory experiences with traditional medications.
Patient Hann Dougie, a 31-year-old dental nurse from Swansea, described how medical cannabis helped her stop taking codeine after years of severe period pain and endometriosis symptoms.
“I didn’t even know it was legal in this country, but I’m so glad I discovered it,’ she said.
“Codeine and the pill have awful long-term side effects, and so many people could benefit from this.”
A 2025 Alternaleaf survey of 500 NHS doctors found that 79% of respondents believe the UK is over-reliant on opioids for chronic pain, and 76% think treatment options for women’s health conditions such as endometriosis, perimenopause and PMDD remain too limited.
Eight in ten GPs said they would be open to prescribing medical cannabis if it were available on the NHS.
Chaudhri said: “Medical cannabis offers a safer alternative to conventional painkillers and antidepressants, which many patients report have significant side effects.
“While it won’t be for everyone, it’s a valid option for thousands of women suffering from common but life-altering conditions. I’d like to see more women signposted to medical cannabis as a safer option when they turn to their GPs for support.”
