How Cannabis Affects Reproductive Health from Fertility Through Menopause
Cannabis exposure has been associated with adverse effects across the entire reproductive spectrum, from altered fertility and sperm quality to preterm birth, impaired fetal development, and presence in breast milk.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
THC crosses the placenta and has been detected in breast milk. Prenatal cannabis use has been associated with small-for-gestational-age infants, preterm birth, and impaired offspring neurodevelopment. In males, cannabis has been linked to erectile dysfunction, abnormal spermatogenesis, and testicular atrophy. In females, it has been associated with infertility and abnormal embryo implantation.
Key Numbers
Cannabinoid receptors found in male and female reproductive tracts, on sperm, and on the placenta; cannabis potency has increased significantly in the past decade
How They Did This
Narrative review synthesizing evidence on cannabinoid effects across the reproductive lifespan, including fertility, pregnancy, lactation, and menopause, with focus on endocannabinoid system biology.
Why This Research Matters
Cannabis is the most commonly used federally illegal drug among people of reproductive age, and product potency has increased significantly. Understanding reproductive effects is critical as use continues to rise.
The Bigger Picture
The endocannabinoid system plays a role in regulating reproduction at every stage. As cannabis use rises among reproductive-age adults and menopausal women, the gap between use and safety evidence continues to widen.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Narrative review with limited available evidence, particularly for lactation and menopause. Most pregnancy studies cannot fully account for confounders like polysubstance use.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does increased cannabis potency translate to greater reproductive risk?
- ?How long do cannabinoid effects on fertility persist after cessation?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- THC crosses the placenta and is detected in breast milk
- Evidence Grade:
- Comprehensive narrative review, but limited by quality of underlying studies and difficulty controlling for confounders in pregnancy research.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022
- Original Title:
- Impact of cannabinoids on pregnancy, reproductive health, and offspring outcomes.
- Published In:
- American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 227(4), 571-581 (2022)
- Authors:
- Lo, Jamie O(13), Hedges, Jason C(4), Girardi, Guillermina
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04017
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research without a strict systematic method.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis affect fertility?
The review found cannabis associated with altered reproductive hormones, menstrual cycle changes, and abnormal semen parameters in males, including erectile dysfunction and testicular atrophy.
Is cannabis safe during pregnancy?
The review found THC crosses the placenta and prenatal use has been associated with preterm birth, low birth weight, and impaired offspring neurodevelopment. THC has also been detected in breast milk.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04017APA
Lo, Jamie O; Hedges, Jason C; Girardi, Guillermina. (2022). Impact of cannabinoids on pregnancy, reproductive health, and offspring outcomes.. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 227(4), 571-581. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2022.05.056
MLA
Lo, Jamie O, et al. "Impact of cannabinoids on pregnancy, reproductive health, and offspring outcomes.." American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2022.05.056
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Impact of cannabinoids on pregnancy, reproductive health, an..." RTHC-04017. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/lo-2022-impact-of-cannabinoids-on
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.