Study sheds light on THC’s impact on male fertility and reproductive outcomes
A recent study conducted by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University found that chronic use of cannabis can negatively impact male fertility in nonhuman primates, which confirms earlier findings.
However, the study also found that ending the use of THC may help to partially reverse these effects. The research will be useful in helping patients to make informed decisions about THC usage when trying to conceive.
The study was published online in Fertility & Sterility.
According to the authors, this is one of the first studies on the subject has shown that the negative effects on male reproductive health in nonhuman primates caused by chronic THC use can be partially reversed by stopping it.
THC also known as Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol is the primary psychoactive component in cannabis, a drug widely used by men of reproductive age worldwide and in the US. However, there is limited safety data available concerning THC, and users may not be aware of the potential harm it could cause to their reproductive health. This study aimed to address this gap in knowledge by investigating the reversibility of these effects, which can help healthcare providers better advise patients, particularly those who intend to conceive, about THC’s risks and recommendations for use.
Understanding the consequences of THC on reproductive health is crucial, particularly since its use is growing among people of reproductive age and more states are legalizing cannabis.
“These findings are important because we can now more confidently assure patients that by abstaining from THC for at least four months, the impacts of THC on male fertility can be partly reversed,” points out the study’s corresponding author Jamie Lo. “This allows for more concrete, informed recommendations for patients who are in the process of family planning or actively trying to conceive.”
A multidisciplinary team, which included Carol Hanna, Ph.D., the director of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Core at the ONPRC at OHSU, as well as researchers from the University of Georgia and Duke University, conducted the study.
The research was carried out on nonhuman primates who were given THC in gradually increasing doses over a period of approximately seven months. The study focused on the effects of THC exposure on the reproductive health organs and testes of the male subjects, as well as the quality and quantity of their sperm. The analyses revealed that THC exposure caused a considerable decrease in testes size and impacted male productive hormones, both of which adversely impacted fertility. THC exposure also affected sperm quality, causing alterations in the regulation of genes essential for nervous system development, including those linked to autism spectrum disorder.
The study found it noteworthy that after a period of approximately four months of discontinuing THC exposure, researchers observed partial reversals of these negative impacts. This suggests that damage caused by prolonged use of THC can be partially reversed.
Although additional research is required to fully comprehend the biological mechanisms involved in this reversal process, the study provides a preliminary understanding of the advantages of discontinuing THC usage as a component of family planning. It also provides some insight into the minimum duration of THC abstinence required to repair the damage caused by chronic use. These findings can be used to better advise healthcare providers on how to counsel patients on cannabis use prior to attempting to conceive.
Jason C. Hedges, M.D., Ph.D., the study’s lead author and an associate professor of urology at the OHSU School of Medicine, Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences at ONPRC, says that although family planning may not be a top priority for teenagers and young adults, “THC even in moderate doses could impact their fertility outcomes.”
As healthcare providers, this is a major concern for them.
“The more we can understand and define this issue, the better information we can provide to patients to be able to optimize their reproductive health.”
Moving forward, the team intends to further their understanding of the connection between THC and reproductive health. Their continued research efforts will concentrate on examining the effects of chronic THC use over prolonged periods and through different methods, such as vaping. Additionally, they plan to explore the impacts of THC on fetal and offspring development.
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