Effects of Marijuana on Fertility
Cannabis use is on the rise, thanks to the fact that it is now legal for both medical and recreational use in various states around the country. This presents its own set of issues. One of these issues is marijuana's potential harmful impact on male fertility.
Men and women are smoking cannabis as well as consuming edibles for both recreational and medicinal purposes. But those trying to conceive need a better understanding of how using marijuana, legally or illegally, can impact their fertility just as they should be aware of alcohol’s effects. The jury, however, still is out on the extent and specifics of marijuana’s influence on people trying to have a baby.
The debate rages on locally and internationally regarding the legalisation of marijuana. Men in their prime reproductive years represent a large demographic of users of marijuana. It is imperative therefore to understand how marijuana affects sperm and how it potentially affects the children conceived with male marijuana users.
Marijuana is a drug derived from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica. Its main psychoactive component is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is linked to altered sensual perception, mood changes and impaired body movements. Other components of cannabis (cannabinoids) have unique pharmacologic effects without the psychoactive effects of THC.
There are only a few conditions where cannabinoids have been proved to be useful and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These include:
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
Appetite stimulation in conditions that cause weight loss, such as AIDS
Specific types of seizure disorders in children
Other indications that have been less well studied include chronic pain, muscle spasticity from multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Tourette syndrome.
Men who've smoked marijuana appear to have significantly higher sperm concentrations than those who've never given it a try, a new study reports.
There's also a potential link between pot use and testosterone, said senior researcher Dr. Jorge Chavarro. He's an associate professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.
"With increasing use of marijuana, there was a positive association with serum testosterone levels," Chavarro said. "More marijuana, higher testosterone levels."
THC and the reproductive system
THC, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main ingredient in marijuana that gives users the feeling of being 'high' or relaxed. THC replaces the body's natural cannabinoid receptors, affecting sperm with a reduced count and changes in its size, motility, and speed.
Sperm parameters
Cannabis smoking reduced sperm concentration by 52% and total sperm count by 55%. These types of sperm changes generally are not seen until men reach middle age. Another recent study also found men undergoing fertility workup who used marijuana had decreased sperm motility. However, Boston University found no link between pot use and the likelihood of conceiving.
Libido decrease
One of the more obvious problems with individuals smoking or eating marijuana is that they might be too high to make love or have a decreased libido. Men who use may partake with their wife or partner and both may not ‘feel the love’ to conceive naturally.
Can marijuana help fertility?
Many individuals use marijuana because it helps decrease their stress or sleep better, all of which can help individuals during their fertility experience. This is another area that needs further fact-finding, though given the possible other negative effects, it is unlikely to be overall helpful.
