This common habit could be quietly hurting men’s fertility, experts warn

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As the Trump administration moves to loosen federal restrictions on drugs — including a new step to ease regulations on state-licensedmedical marijuana— questions are growing about cannabis use and its broader health effects.

Among them is a lesser discussed concern: men’s fertility.

During National Infertility Awareness Week, experts are drawing attention to the potential negative impact of both recreational and medical cannabis on malereproductive health.

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Cannabis use has been associated with changes in reproductive health for both males and females, though human evidence remains mixed.

“This is especially disheartening when men and women are actively trying to conceive and start a family,” Dr.

As the Trump administration moves to loosen federal restrictions on drugs, questions are growing about cannabis use and its broader health effects.(AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

A 2025 Harvard-linked study involving women undergoingfertility treatmentrevealed twice as many miscarriages among those using cannabis compared to non-users.

It’s a common misconception, however, that fertility issues are always due to an issue with the woman.Male infertilityis more common than many think, according to Stephanie Seminar, MD, chief of the Reproductive Endocrine Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, a founding member of Mass General Brigham in Boston, Massachusetts.

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“Many individuals think infertility is a woman’s problem, [but] male infertility is common and under-evaluated,�

Out of the 10% to 15% of couples worldwide who experience infertility, male factors cause or contribute to approximately 45% of those cases, data shows.

Cannabis use, particularly when heavy and chronic, can have negative effects on male fertility, a doctor cautioned.(iStock)

Having normal sexual drive and performance does not mean that a man has normal fertility, Seminar noted.

An evaluation of male infertility goes beyond semen analysis, examining factors likesexual dysfunction, toxin exposure, tobacco/cannabis use, childhood illnesses and past testosterone use, according to medical experts.

How cannabis may affect male fertility

Cannabis use, particularly when heavy and chronic, can havenegative effectson male fertility, Seminar cautioned.Those can include changes in reproductive hormones and semen parameters, including decreased sperm counts or mobility.

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Cannabis can also impact sperm quality, the doctor said.“The sperm count or volume can be lower, and those sperm produced may be malformed and unable to swim effectively,” the doctor said.

Research supports this decline – a 2019 review published in The Journal of Urology found associations between cannabis use, especially the smoked form, andreduced semen quality.

“Many individuals think infertility is a woman’s problem, [but] male infertility is common and under-evaluated.”

Another study of 1,215 healthy young Danish men, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, found that smoking cannabis more than once per week was associated with a 28% lower sperm concentration and 29% lower total sperm count.

Combining marijuana with other recreational drugs more than once a week reduced sperm concentration and count even higher – by 52% and 55%, respectively.

Disruption of reproductive hormones

The human body produces its own natural endocannabinoids to regulate vital functions like fertility, as described in a Nature Reviews Urology analysis.

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Cannabis mimics these molecules with its two main compounds: cannabidiol (CBD) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which interact directly with the body’s endocannabinoid system.

Cannabis may interfere with the brain’s regulation of reproductive hormones, experts say.(iStock)

While THC can relieve pain or stimulate appetite, it also triggers the “high” that often leads to adverse side effects, like anxiety or paranoia, which have been widely documented in cannabinoid research.

When cannabis is consumed, external cannabinoids enter the body and bind to the same receptors as natural endocannabinoids, which may impair sperm quality and reproductive function, according to previous studies.

Any negative effects may be reversible, as fertility can be improved when couples stop cannabis use, DeRoo noted.

Experts recommend discontinuing cannabis use at least three months prior to conceiving to allow the body to generate a full cycle of healthy sperm.

couple sit at gynecologic cancer appointment

Men planning to conceive should stop using cannabis, experts recommend, as it can significantly impair sperm quality.(iStock)

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine also encourages couples trying to conceive to avoid recreational drugs to maximize their chances of a healthy birth.

“Stopping the use of cannabis improves other areas of health in a person’s life, and conception orpregnancycan be a strong motivator for abstinence,” DeRoo added.