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Researchers warn that marijuana could be linked to fertility problems in women and men.
The drug, which is now legal in most US states and across Canada, has been described as therapeutic for all types of ailments, a study even suggesting it could increase sperm count.
Researchers at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada, argue that the general picture of evidence suggests that cannabis is linked to decreased sperm count, impaired ovulation, and reduced chances of procreation.
The team is now asking for more research on the effects of this drug on reproductive health, including increased use in US states and countries where marijuana is legalized.
Here are five things that couples who want to become pregnant should consider when it comes to marijuana use:
A new analysis from Western University in London, Ontario, Canada, indicates that studies show that cannabis decreases sperm motility, prevents ovulation up to three days and decreases the chances of conceiving (image of file)
1. THC AFFECTS REPRODUCTIVE TISSUES
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive compound responsible for the feeling of euphoria, often associated with the presence of marijuana.
THC interacts with CB1 receptors in the central nervous system and the brain and creates feelings of euphoria and anxiety.
Studies have shown that THC acts on receptors not only in the brain but in the reproductive organs of men and women.
2. CANNABIS CAN DECREASE THE NUMBER OF SPERMS
Previous studies have shown that marijuana use can have a negative effect on sperm quality and male fertility.
A 2011 study found that men who smoked marijuana more than once a week had their total sperm count down by almost 30%.
And a study from October 2018 examined sperm samples from more than 400 men screened for infertility.
The researchers told DailyMail.com that men who had used cannabis at least once had less volume and a reduced motor count, which meant that sperm could move.
Men were also at increased risk of abnormally shaped sperm, which may affect their ability to reach and enter an egg.
Although the effect of the pot on sperm is not exactly understood, new research has shown that the drug can modify the DNA, resulting in a deterioration of sperm quality.
3. The smoke pot can delay or prevent ovulation
A study published in 2007 in the Journal of Women's Health examined more than 200 women and found that occasional marijuana use was linked to menstrual cycle delays of up to three and a half days.
Another study found that moderate to heavy marijuana users were more likely to have anovulatory menstrual cycles, which means that no ovulation would occur.
Researchers believe that the use of pots can disrupt the release of gonadotropins, hormones that stimulate the ovaries and, therefore, affect menstrual cycles.
However, other lifestyle-related factors may have an effect on fertility, said Dr. Sara Ilnitsky, a researcher in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Western University.
"If a person already has an underlying fertility problem, if you also reduce the amount of sperm available or change when the egg is released, this could have an additional impact on your ability to get pregnant," she says. she told the Canadian Press.
4. Marijuana does not seem to affect couples without fertility problems
A study conducted in 2018 by Boston University found that marijuana did not reduce a couple's chances of getting pregnant.
After taking into account variables such as the frequency of sexual intercourse, the researchers found that The likelihood of conceiving after 12 menstrual cycles was similar for couples who used cannabis than for those who did not use cannabis.
And an analysis of data from the National Family Growth Survey revealed that neither the use of the pot nor the frequency of its use affected the time before pregnancy.
But the new study team says the results probably come from couples who do not experience fertility problems.
"For infertile couples, changes in ovulatory function and sperm count associated with marijuana use may make it harder to conceive," they wrote.
5. NEED MORE RESEARCH ON POT EFFECTS ON FERTILITY
At present, 10 states and Washington DC have legalized marijuana for recreational purposes and 33 states have legalized marijuana for medical purposes.
The researchers point out that the studies on cannabis and fertility are very small and not randomized.
In addition, since there are different concentrations and strains of pot, it can also distort the data.
"Dependence on self-reported marijuana use introduces inaccuracy, especially when the drug is illegal, and omits valuable information about the route and dose," they write. "The results should be interpreted with caution."
Although the team suggests to men and women to no longer consume marijuana for recreational purposes if they are seeking to be pregnant, anyone who uses the drug for therapeutic purposes would need a risk-benefit discussion with a fertility specialist doctor before completely stopping consumption.
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