Cannabis and Fertility

Cannabis has a negative impact on fertility and IVF outcomes through several mechanisms:

Overall, cannabis use is linked to lower fertility in both men and women, decreased IVF success, higher miscarriage risk, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Avoiding cannabis is strongly recommended when trying to conceive or undergoing IVF treatment.​

• In women, THC (the active compound in cannabis) decreases luteinizing hormone (LH), which is essential for egg production and ovulation. This can delay or disrupt ovulation, sometimes causing anovulation where eggs are not released, making pregnancy impossible. Women who smoke marijuana daily take longer to conceive, with a notably lower chance of conception within 6 months compared to non-users.​
• Cannabis use harms egg health, reducing the number of eggs retrieved during IVF and impairing embryo formation and implantation. THC can cause chromosomal abnormalities in human eggs, leading to infertility, increased miscarriage rates, and possibly genetic defects in offspring.​
• For IVF specifically, THC presence in follicular fluid (surrounding the egg) is associated with poorer egg maturation and lower quality embryos, negatively impacting success rates.​

Negative effects of Cannabis on Males:

• Men who use cannabis experience reduced sperm count, motility, and morphology, along with lowered testosterone and disrupted hormone levels. This reduces sperm viability and fertilization potential, and effects may last several weeks after stopping cannabis use. Marijuana also decreases libido and can cause erectile dysfunction.​

This evidence highlights the importance of abstaining from cannabis during fertility treatments to improve the chances of conception and a healthy pregnancy.