The side effects of marijuana use have been debated for decades. Both sides have plenty of motivation to be deceptive in their reporting on the issue. For the anti-drug coalition, negative side effects are a staple of their argument to keep marijuana illegal, but it is in the best interest of marijuana's advocates that it be seen as completely harmless. While the anti-dug position taken by the government has presented a bounty of dubious science during its history of combating marijuana use, effects on fertility may be one real where they have a point.
Hormonal Changes
One of the most frequent claims made by marijuana advocates is that the drug exaggerates the opposite-gender characteristics of the user. Somehow, they claim, marijuana produces feminine characteristics in men and masculine characteristics in women. These claims are just as ridiculous as they sound, with no real grounding in fact. Physiological change is not one of the mechanisms by which marijuana use can affect fertility.
Reduced Sperm Count
This is one probable avenue that marijuana use can have an effect on fertility. While there are a number of studies, all of which have reached different conclusions and ascribed different reasons to their result, the consensus seems to be that marijuana will contribute to a lower sperm count. However, the effect seems to be temporary and about the same as reduction in sperm count due to alcohol consumption.
Eager Sperm
A new study from the University of Buffalo suggests that the sperm of marijuana users may activate immediately, burning out before reaching the fallopian tube. While the study has yet to be corroborated, it has received a great deal of press. The results were announced at the conference of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. The effects are likely to reduce sperm's efficacy, but only for as long as it takes for the liver to metabolize marijuana's tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Bonding Issues
Some studies have suggested that marijuana use may make it difficult for sperm to bond to the female egg, inhibiting pregnancy. While studies have found this to be true in monkeys, the THC dosages were so high as to make the study's effect on humans difficult to determine.
Heavy Use
While most of the studies present conflicting information and conclusions drawn from heavy dosages, the preponderance of evidence suggests that marijuana likely affects fertility when used once a day or more. Heavy use would seem to indicate weaker sperm, lower sperm count and an overall drop in efficacy. However, there is no evidence that marijuana, even heavy use, could produce permanent infertility, in either males or females.
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