New Research Links Marijuana To Sperm Abnormalities, But It's No Smoking Gun

Pot May Put The Hurt On Men's Sperm

Thinking about starting a family? It might be wise to cut the cannabis--at least if you're a guy.

That's the apparent takeaway of a new study by scientists at the University of Sheffield linking marijuana use to sperm abnormalities that could limit men's fertility.

The study, the largest of its kind, looked at sperm samples from 1,970 men across the U.K. The researchers looked at how a range of behaviors might affect sperm quality--including smoking and drinking and what kind of underwear men wore.

"We weren’t really interested in [the cannabis angle] at all,” lead author Dr. Allan Pacey, a senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield, told Fox News. “We were interested in trying to best define the risks of sperm quality. We recruited [a couple thousand] guys, who gave us a sperm sample and allowed us to investigate aspects of their lives ... It was just one of the things we asked if they did; it was no more detailed than that.”

The researchers found that 318 of the 1,970 men produced samples in which less than 4 percent of the sperm were the correct size and shape. Men in this "abnormal sperm" group were twice as likely to have produced the semen sample during summer months, consistent with research that shows hotter temperatures decrease sperm quality. In addition, men in the abnormal group under the age of 30 were more likely to have used pot than men whose sperm was normal.

Abnormal sperm, often characterized by oddly shaped heads or poorly developed tails, may have trouble making their way to a woman's egg, thus reducing the chance that she will be impregnated. While it isn't impossible for abnormally shaped sperm to fertilize an egg, studies have linked sperm abnormalities to male infertility, according to the website of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Despite the findings, however, some scientists say the study shouldn't be considered a smoking gun.

"The take-home lesson of the article is that clinicians should counsel their patients on the possible relationships between lifestyle factors, abnormal semen parameters and fertility outcomes," Rebecca Sokol, president of the society, told CNN. "This should include a discussion that the data are often inconclusive, but the motto 'everything in moderation' is a wise approach for the couple who is planning a pregnancy."

The study was published in the June 5 issue of the journal of Human Reproduction.

Before You Go

10 Fertility Facts You May Not Know

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot