Marijuana may have a lot of benefits, but when it comes to conceiving, it may be best for wishful fathers to be to put the joint down.
According to a study that was conducted at Duke University Medical Center, the exposure of marijuana to men in their child-bearing years alters the genetic profile of their sperm.
Marijuana isn’t the only culprit that can do these. Other outside factors that can affect sperm include tobacco smoke, pesticides, and obesity.
The study, which examined 24 men, showed that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can affect epigenetics, causing structural and regulatory changes in the DNA of users’ sperm.
Senior author of the study, Scott Kollins, said, “What we have found is that the effects of cannabis use on males and their reproductive health are not completely null. In that, there’s something about cannabis use that affects the genetic profile in sperm.”
Susan Murphy, co-author of the study, said, “We know that there are effects of cannabis use on the regulatory mechanisms in sperm DNA, but we don’t know whether they can be transmitted to the next generation.”
“In the absence of a larger, definitive study, the best advice would be to assume these changes are going to be there. We don’t know whether they are going to be permanent.
“I would say, as a precaution, stop using cannabis for at least six months before trying to conceive.”
