New research sounds alarm on marijuana's threat to female fertility and embryo health

"A groundbreaking new study is raising significant concerns for women of childbearing age, suggesting that marijuana use could directly damage the quality of a woman's eggs and increase the risk of severe genetic abnormalities in embryos. The research, conducted at a Canadian fertility clinic, provides some of the first direct evidence that THC, the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, may interfere with the delicate biological processes of egg maturation, potentially leading to birth defects and failed pregnancies."

"The research fills a significant gap, as previous studies focused on pregnancy outcomes and male fertility, not the direct impact on the quality of a woman's eggs themselves. These findings are especially urgent as self-reported cannabis use among pregnant women has surged, fueled by legalization and a perception of it being a harmless remedy. Experts emphasize an immediate need for clearer patient education, urging women trying to conceive to avoid cannabis and for doctors to include it in counseling alongside alcohol and tobacco."

Analysis of over 1,000 ovarian fluid samples from women undergoing in vitro fertilization identified 62 women with THC in their samples; eggs exposed to THC showed disrupted maturation and a marked increase in chromosomal errors (aneuploidy). Disrupted maturation increases the likelihood of non-viable embryos, miscarriages, failed IVF attempts, and genetic conditions such as Down syndrome. Prior research emphasized pregnancy outcomes and male fertility without demonstrating a direct effect on egg quality. Self-reported cannabis use among pregnant women has risen with legalization and perceptions of harmlessness. Clinicians should include cannabis in preconception and prenatal counseling and advise women trying to conceive to avoid cannabis.

Read at Natural Health News