Genesis Fertility Clinic Blog
searching: “marijuana”
May 30, 2009
Marijuana and fertility
From time to time I get asked whether men should stop smoking marijuana to improve their fertility. Answer: yes. Marijuana reduces sperm count, how well sperm swim (motility) and their shape (morphology). A study published this month looked at sperm respiration or oxygen use and demonstrated that the two main active cannabinoids of the marijuana plant, D9- and D8-tetrahydrocannabinoid (THC), are potent inhibitors of oxygen consumption in human sperm. This might influence the ability of the sperm to fertilize and egg, or affect fertility in some other unknown way.
The good news is that the negative effects of marijuana on sperm don’t seem to be permanent (more studies are needed to answer this definitively, though). Once you stop using marijuana new sperm that are made will not be exposed the THC and therefore should be of better quality and number. It takes about 3 months for a new “batch” of sperm to be completely formed. So, if you have been using marijuana it will take about 3 months for beneficial effect of stopping it to be seen.
It’s pretty clear marijuana isn’t good for male fertility. Your instincts probably already told you this, huh?
Dr. Beth Taylor, MD, FRCSC
Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility