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The sperm from marijuana smokers
move too fast
too early,
lose their way and experience burnout before reaching the egg.
- Lani J. Burkman, Ph.D, University of Buffalo
Marijuana and Fertility
Please also read Smoking and Fertility
Did you know that in addition to killing off some of your valuable brain cells, partaking in marijuana will greatly diminish your chances of conception?
Dr. Iwan Lewis-Jones from Liverpool Women’s Hospital UK says Cannabis, nicotine and alcohol all affect sperm quality, because they've been shown to cause DNA damage to the sperm.
Marijuana is known to affect male and female fertility. It seems that if you and your partner smoke, or either one of you does, then you are not the only ones that get high from the experience. So too does the sperm and they will burst out in a very ambitious manner, will lose their way and experience burnout before they reach the egg, thus rendering them incapable of fertilisation.
These are the findings of a study conducted by the University of Buffalo in 2003. "The sperm from marijuana smokers were moving too fast too early," said Lani J. Burkman, Ph.D., lead author on the study.
But that is not the only the reason that you need to stop using marijuana if you wish to improve your fertility…
Male Fertility
Studies suggest that:
- Marijuana will result in a low or lower sperm count.
- Marijuana will affect the sperm’s motility.
- Marijuana may lead to genetically abnormal sperm.
- Marijuana may lead to abnormal sperm behaviour.
- Marijuana will result in sperm burnout before it can reach its destination for fertilisation.
- Marijuana will result in less seminal fluid.
Female Fertility
Like other drugs, marijuana also crosses your placenta. Research shows the marijuana causes prematurity and abnormalities in the foetus, although more studies need to be done to show the direct effect on fertility for women.
Burkman's team studied only men. But she says that when women smoke marijuana, the active ingredient, THC, appears in their reproductive organs and vaginal fluids. Sperm exposed to this THC are likely to act just as sperm exposed to THC in the testes.
That means if you are smoking marijuana, you are putting THC into your oviduct and into your cervix. If your partner is not smoking but you are, his sperm will go into your body and hit THC in your vagina, oviduct, and uterus. Thus your THC is changing his sperm.
Some couples still get pregnant whilst using marijuana but why would you take the risk?
Stop smoking at least two months before trying to conceive. Your future baby is worth it.
Even though you're aware of the dangers of smoking, it's not always easy to give up the habit. If you are finding it difficult to quit on your own, call us at the clinic for hypnotherapy help to quit smoking. Results from over 600 studies have shown that hypnosis is 3 times as effective as a Nicotine Patch and 15 times more effective than willpower alone!
Alternatively check out your local health store for natural solutions or see your doctor (or all of the above!)
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