{"id":8499,"date":"2023-10-31T19:37:28","date_gmt":"2023-10-31T12:37:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=8499"},"modified":"2023-10-31T19:37:28","modified_gmt":"2023-10-31T12:37:28","slug":"cannabis-on-fertility-and-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=8499","title":{"rendered":"Cannabis on Fertility and Pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Pregnant and breastfeeding women should probably be advised to either decrease or, when possible, cease cannabis use entirely, and couples trying to conceive may also want to consider cutting down.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Approximately one in six couples \u201care unable to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/26283091\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">conceive<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> after a year and are labeled infertile, with a male factor identified in up to half of all cases.\u201d Several lifestyle factors have been associated with diminished sperm production, such as smoking cigarettes, but what about smoking cannabis?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cRegular marijuana smoking more than once per week was <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/26283092\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">associated<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> with a 28%\u2026lower sperm concentration,\u201d as well as a lower total sperm count based on a study of more than a thousand men, but \u201cno adverse association was found for irregular use\u201d of less than once a week.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As I discuss in my video <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nutritionfacts.org\/video\/the-effects-of-marijuana-on-fertility-and-pregnancy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Effects of Marijuana on Fertility and Pregnancy<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, this <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/26283092\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">wasn\u2019t<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> a randomized study, so other factors that go along with regular marijuana use may have been to blame. Researchers did take into account cigarettes, alcohol, other drugs, STDs, and things like that, but there\u2019s always a possibility there was something else for which they didn\u2019t control.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Findings were similar for women. Hundreds of infertile couples were <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/16458631\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">studied<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> in California, and, just as men had about a quarter fewer sperm, a quarter fewer eggs were retrieved from women who used cannabis more than 90 times in their lifetime or had been using the year before. Again, there could have been confounding factors, but until we know more, couples who are trying to conceive may want to make the joint decision to turn over a new leaf.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What about during pregnancy? As you can see below and at 1:39 in my <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nutritionfacts.org\/video\/the-effects-of-marijuana-on-fertility-and-pregnancy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">video<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, medical authorities <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/28498631\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">recommend<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> that \u201cwomen who are pregnant or contemplating pregnancy should be encouraged to discontinue marijuana use\u201d and not use it during pregnancy or lactation, though the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine suggests the known benefits of breastmilk currently outweigh any potential harms for women who continue to smoke it. Despite these warnings from authorities, marijuana use has <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/27992619\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">increased<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> among pregnant women in recent years, going up by more than 60 percent, but that\u2019s only from about 2.5 percent up to less than 4 percent, which is less than half the frequency of nonpregnant women.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-97072\" src=\"https:\/\/nutritionfacts.org\/app\/uploads\/2023\/10\/1-39.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nutritionfacts.org\/app\/uploads\/2023\/10\/1-39.png 1920w, https:\/\/nutritionfacts.org\/app\/uploads\/2023\/10\/1-39-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/nutritionfacts.org\/app\/uploads\/2023\/10\/1-39-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/nutritionfacts.org\/app\/uploads\/2023\/10\/1-39-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/nutritionfacts.org\/app\/uploads\/2023\/10\/1-39-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/nutritionfacts.org\/app\/uploads\/2023\/10\/1-39-480x270.png 480w, https:\/\/nutritionfacts.org\/app\/uploads\/2023\/10\/1-39-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/nutritionfacts.org\/app\/uploads\/2023\/10\/1-39-720x405.png 720w, https:\/\/nutritionfacts.org\/app\/uploads\/2023\/10\/1-39-540x304.png 540w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"\/><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Why are OB\/GYNs so down on getting high? Scary articles appear in the <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, like one <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/27422056\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">making<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> claims that a \u201clarge study conducted by the US National Birth Defects Prevention Center documented a significantly increased risk for anencephaly [a serious birth defect] when the fetus is exposed to marijuana during the first month of gestation.\u201d But, if you don\u2019t just take their word for it and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/19057385\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">pull<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> up the actual study, you\u2019ll see that the association wasn\u2019t statistically significant after all. As one letter to the editor was titled, \u201cMarijuana and Pregnancy: Objective Education <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/28400309\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Is<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Good, but Biased Education Is Not.\u201d <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Some risks have been <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/27992628\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">identified<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">: Infants \u201cwere more likely to be anemic, and\u2026have lower birth weight and to require placement in neonatal intensive care than infants of mothers who did not use marijuana.\u201d However, it\u2019s \u201cdifficult to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/24457255\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">determine<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> the direct effects of maternal cannabis use on the developing fetus\u201d because of a variety of confounding factors for which studies may not be able to completely control.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Studies also show links between prenatal marijuana exposure and learning problems later in life\u2014manifesting years later in school\u2014and that\u2019s where the greater concern lies, on the potential long-term effects on brain development. So, even after \u201cweeding out the myths,\u201d there is enough concern that \u201cpregnant and breastfeeding cannabis users should be identified early and advised to either decrease or where possible cease cannabis use entirely.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">When do I mean by cut down \u201cwhen possible?\u201d Check out my video <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/nutritionfacts.org\/video\/natural-treatments-morning-sickness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Natural Treatments for Morning Sickness<\/a><\/strong><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to see how marijuana use during pregnancy can sometimes be a lifesaver.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">I originally released several videos on cannabis in a webinar and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/drgreger.org\/collections\/downloads\/products\/cannabis-what-does-the-science-say-digital\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">downloadable digital DVD<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">. If you missed any of them, they are listed in the related videos below. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">For more on fertility, check out <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nutritionfacts.org\/video\/male-fertility-and-diet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Male Fertility and Diet<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nutritionfacts.org\/video\/dairy-estrogen-and-male-fertility\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Dairy Estrogen and Male Fertility<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"et_social_bottom_trigger\"\/>  <\/div>\n<p><script>\n            !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n            {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n                n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n            if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n            n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n            t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n            s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',\n                'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n            fbq('init', '1582627921973608');\n            fbq('track', 'PageView');\n        <\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pregnant and breastfeeding women should probably be advised to either decrease or, when possible, cease cannabis use entirely, and couples trying to conceive may also want to consider cutting down.\u00a0 Approximately one in six couples \u201care unable to conceive after a year and are labeled infertile, with a male factor identified in up to half &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":8500,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8499"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8499\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}