A new study conducted by the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) has found that regular cannabis use could negatively impact male fertility. The study, published in the journal Fertility and Sterility, involved administering daily doses of cannabis with the psychoactive cannabinoid Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to male macaques for seven months. The amount of THC given to the macaques was equivalent to the dose humans receive for medical purposes. The researchers gradually increased the amount of cannabis given to the macaques over the course of the experiment. The study found that the THC consumption was associated with significant negative effects on the animals’ reproductive hormones, including a reduced testosterone level and a significant shrinkage of the testicles. The size of the testicles of the macaques decreased by half over the course of the experiment, and the effect was dose-dependent, increasing as the animals consumed more THC.
The study’s findings are similar to another study that found that THC affects the reproductive hormones of female macaques. It is unclear whether the effects of cannabis use on fertility are reversible if THC consumption is stopped for a certain period. The results of the study still need to be validated in a clinical study with humans. If the study confirms the results, it could have implications for people who take THC for medical reasons. The study does not answer whether occasional cannabis use affects fertility.
The legalization of cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes is becoming more common in many countries, including Germany. However, this study highlights the potential negative effects of regular cannabis use on male fertility. The study’s findings suggest that more research is needed to fully understand the effects of cannabis on reproductive health.
