Can Pot Make Men Infertile?
Can pot make men infertile? Yes. Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) contains THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), a cannabin that is a psychoactive chemical present in varying amounts in pot. The Food and Drug Administration says: "Alcohol and drugs can also hurt a man's sperm. Marijuana (pot), cigarettes, and some medicines can affect sperm." Studies prove pot to cause infertility.
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Function
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THC damages the DNA in that sperm changes shape, speed and behavior. Pot smokers' sperm is altered and unable to fertilize a female's egg. It isn't known how long after pot cessation that sperm returns to normal function and fertility.
Potential
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THC in higher concentrations is present in hashish. Since THC is fat-soluble, it's stored in the fat cells for at least a month--or longer, if the pot smoker is obese. The length of time THC lingers in body fat gives rise to additional potential dangers stemming from the drug.
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Types
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Strains of pot include indoor, outdoor and feminized marijuana varieties. Indoor strains include Hawaii Skunk, Hindu Kush, God Bud, Ice Marijuana, Durban Poison, Mauwie Wauwie, Turtle Power, Swiss Miss, Misty, Snow White, White Widow and Island Lady to name but a few. Outdoor strains include but are not limited to: Blueberry Bud, Happy Outdoor, Afghani, Crystal, California Bud, Northern Lights, Master Kush and New Purple Power. Feminized strains include Venus, Wonder Woman, Snow White, Northern Bright, Kaya, White Widow Feminized and Light of Jah.
Effects
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Smokers of marijuana produce less seminal fluid and sperm volume than fertile nonsmokers of pot. Dr. Iwan Lewis-Jones, senior lecturer in the University Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Liverpool Women's Hospital and chair of the British Andrology Society, said: "Caffeine is thought to stimulate sperm, but whether it improves pregnancy rates has not been proven." In contrast, "cannabis, nicotine and alcohol all affect sperm quality, because they've been shown to cause DNA damage to the sperm. So, yes, all this environmental factor business certainly does impinge itself on fertility."
Expert Insight
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A study between male marijuana smokers and proven fertile men showed that the chemicals in marijuana affected the swimming behavior of sperm in marijuana smokers. The affected sperm swims too fast, too early and experience "burnout" before reaching the female egg.
"The bottom line is, the active ingredients in marijuana are doing something to sperm, and the numbers are in the direction toward infertility," said Lani J. Burkman, Ph.D., lead author on the study at the University of Buffalo, New York.
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