Effects of Marijuana on Human Reproduction

It is essential to understand the impact of Marijuana on fertility to advise people trying to get pregnant properly. While most people know that smoking marijuana can be harmful to sperm health, researchers wanted to find out if this was true for women as well.

The term Marijuana is commonly used to describe Cannabis. Demand for it is increasing every day. In most places, cannabis is now legal. The effects of Marijuana can be severe. It can prove to be very dangerous for the average person. It can also affect the fertility of the woman. The effects of Marijuana on fertility are important to be aware of before you start using Marijuana. The doctor will recommend the best thing for you if you're a marijuana user and are trying to get pregnant. Doctors will advise you and explain how marijuana can affect you and other aspects. The following information will help you understand how marijuana use affects fertility.

Reduce the sperm count

The fertility of both men and women is affected by marijuana consumption. The sperm count is decreased by smoking marijuana. The sperm count of men who has ever smoked marijuana is 29% lower than those who don't. Another study found that people who have used marijuana in the past have higher sperm counts than those who have never tried it. More research is being done to determine the long-term and short-term effects of marijuana on fertility.

However, there is still much to be done to understand the effects of marijuana on sperm health.

Create a problem in the process of ovulation

It is more challenging to test women fertility who have consumed marijuana than men. Although the research has direct contact with male semen, there is no direct measurement of female reproduction. However, the research shows that marijuana intake can affect ovulation. One study found that smoking marijuana can slow down the ovulation cycle by just a few days. If ovulation doesn't occur, no egg will be released and there will be no chance an egg will be fertilized.

All things considered, health experts agree that more research is needed on marijuana effects on health.

Effects of Marijuana on driving skills

In general, the use of marijuana can alter the perceptual functions although does not cause changes in sensory functions . The alteration of perceptual ability and difficulty concentrating or maintaining attention to their use of cannabinoids have been confirmed by simulation studies and real driving test. In these studies it was also found that subjects under the influence of these substances are aware of their state of alteration and tend to compensate by driving at low speeds, following distances to the vehicles that precede them, avoiding overtaking. Cannabis is the main illegal substance found in injuries from motor vehicle accidents, and frequently it is found associated in combination with alcohol or other drugs of abuse.

The drivers tested positive for marijuana with THC concentrations in the blood of more than 5 ng / mL were responsible for incidents at a rate significantly higher than the drivers test negative. Cannabis is eliminated very slowly by the body, in a study of regular smokers of cannabis were found measurable concentrations of THC even after a week of abstinence from smoking, and some of the subjects still had problems in the tests of driving ability. In a study of habitual heavy smokers, the presence of THC in the blood for an extended period thus seems to lead to cognitive deficits even after a long period of abstinence from smoking. 

The effects are divided into acute and chronic. The acute effects are associated with the recruitment of a single dose of drug, while those chronic derive from the use of a substance for a long period of time. These effects are amplified in the case of association of cannabis with alcohol or other psychoactive substances.

Effects on driving skills : 

Slowed reaction

Reduced perception to light stimuli peripheral

Reduced oculomotor control

Space-time distortion

Difficulty with coordination

Poor speed control, braking and acceleration errors

Minor judgement, risky overtaking manoeuvres

Impairment of attention, especially to perform multiple actions simultaneously

Reduction of the short-term memory

The acute effects

The acute effects of cannabis affect psychomotor functions needed to control and reduce intensely motor control, psychomotor speed, executive functions, the short-term memory and working memory (reaction time and accuracy). In general, the effect of cannabis - the phase "high" - lasts up to 2 hours after ingestion, although many studies highlight the continuing negative effects on cognitive and motor functions up to 10 hours after use.

Chronic Effects

The chronic use of cannabis may lead to a deterioration of memory processes, attention, manual dexterity, executive function and psychomotor speed. These effects may persist beyond the period of intoxication and worsen depending on the duration and frequency of use of the substance. These deficits are for the most part reversible through abstinence prolonged in time. However, many of these can be permanent.