Women who aspire to become pregnant should avoid using cannabis. This guidance is supported by a recent study that investigated the impact of cannabis, particularly its active component THC, on female fertility and the outcome of artificial insemination. The study revealed that cannabis has detrimental effects on fertility and artificial insemination by hindering the development and stability of egg cells.
During in vitro fertilization (IVF), egg and sperm cells are joined in a lab setting. The researchers scrutinized the impact of THC on both isolated human eggs in a lab environment and IVF results among patients who had detectable THC levels in their follicular fluid—fluid in the ovaries surrounding the egg. The detection of THC in this fluid indicates consumption of cannabis prior or during the IVF cycle, pointing to THC’s presence in the egg cell environment.
Undertaken by a team led by Cyntia Duval at the CReATe Fertility Centre in Toronto, Canada, in collaboration with the University of Toronto and other institutions, the study analyzed a total of 1,059 women undergoing IVF, 62 of whom tested positive for THC.
The study also factored in potential errors in cell division and the possibility of an embryo having a healthy set of chromosomes (euploidy). It was shown that THC-positive patients exhibited a significantly lower rate of euploid embryos, lowering the likelihood of genetically sound embryos and a successful pregnancy. Although THC led to slightly faster and more frequent maturation of eggs, the number of embryos with a healthy chromosome set was significantly lower (60% as compared to 67% in the control group) jeopardizing successful pregnancy and the birth of a healthy child.
Furthermore, THC led to defects in chromosome distribution and the structure of the egg cell. Spindle malformations became significantly more common at elevated THC doses, where malformations can lead to miscarriages or developmental disorders. Genes that regulate cell division and the extracellular matrix—vital for embryo implantation and growth—were affected by THC.
Despite these findings, further research is suggested by German experts. Dr. Artur Mayerhofer, who didn’t partake in the study, considered the information as the best available, but highlighted that spindle disorders also increase with a woman’s age, which hasn’t been thoroughly considered. Dr. Wolfgang Paulus, from the Ulm University Hospital, agreed, emphasizing that future studies should explore effects on different age groups and investigate factors not accounted for, like the degree of cannabis consumption and its interaction with other drugs.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/new-study-cannabis-threatens-fertility-for-women/a-73987415?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
