# Effect of Marijuana on Fertility **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 19, 2007, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-marijuana-on-fertility/404697 "2007-05-19T05:25:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2007, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-marijuana-on-fertility/404697/1 "2007-05-19T05:25:52Z")
My question is simple, what is the effect of light Marijuana use on male and female fertility? All of the information I can find online is even from an anti-drug site, or is aimed at heavy Marijuana users. So, what is the straight dope on dope’s effect on fertility? ---
**Author:** ![Jelymag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jelymag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jelymag)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-marijuana-on-fertility/404697/2 "2007-05-19T19:18:13Z")
I’ve never heard much about female fertility, but I have heard that heavy use can significantly diminish male fertility for an indefinite time period. However, it wasn’t a definitive/irrefutable source that gave the information, and I don’t recall anything either way about light use, so YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2007, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-marijuana-on-fertility/404697/3 "2007-05-19T21:27:23Z")
I always thought it was funny when stoners in college would talk about cutting back becuase it lowers your sperm count. “What, you _want_ to have a baby?” “Oh, wait, good point.” ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2007, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-marijuana-on-fertility/404697/4 "2007-05-19T23:30:31Z")
Effect of Marijuana on Fertility? For me, three kids! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2007, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-marijuana-on-fertility/404697/5 "2007-05-20T15:26:27Z")
[QUOTE=Joey P] I always thought it was funny when stoners in college would talk about cutting back becuase it lowers your sperm count. [/QUOTE] I remember waaaaaaaay back in high school, during one of “those” lectures, a girl raised her hand and said that her boyfriend told her that she couldn’t get pregnant because he smoked a lot of pot and it lowers sperm counts. The gal giving the lecture (a Planned Parenthood volunteer) smiled sweetly and explained that while it might lower sperm counts, it was probably only along the lines of lower them from 500 million to only 250 million… :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2007, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-marijuana-on-fertility/404697/6 "2007-05-20T16:13:22Z")
[Marijuana smoking damages sperm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3186686.stm) > [@](#): > > Scientists at Buffalo University found regular smokers had significantly less seminal fluid, and a lower sperm count. > > Their sperm were also more likely to swim too fast too early, leading to burn-out before they reach the egg. > > Lead researcher Dr Lani Burkman said: “The bottom line is, the active ingredients in marijuana are doing something to sperm.” > … > Dr Burkman conceded that many men who smoke marijuana have fathered children. > > However, she said that smoking the drug may tip the balance against men whose fertility was borderline to start with. > > “THC from marijuana may push them over the edge into infertility.” [Synthetic Cannabinoid May Aid Fertility In Smokers](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061201180454.htm) > [@](#): > > “Human sperm carry the cholinergic receptor, which responds to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine,” noted Burkman. “Nicotine mimics acetylcholine and binds to the cholinergic receptor.” In earlier research, Burkman and colleagues also showed that human sperm contain cannabinoid receptors, which respond to marijuana, as well as natural cannabinoids occurring in the body. > > “Research from other scientists indicates that the cholinergic system and the cannabinoid system naturally regulate human sperm and help prepare them for fertilizing an egg,” she said. "Our research suggests that this natural regulation is out of balance for the majority of smokers when sperm are continuously exposed to nicotine.