Smoking pot and sperm

[RussianBlue]

How does smoking pot affect sperm quality?
What the potential of having a disabled child due to pot smoking?

Side note: I don't smoke.

[Tina]

I think it lowers the sperm count. Haven't done research on any other effects. Something we don't have to worry about.

[freckles]

Q. What exactly are the effects of smoking marijuana?

A. Within a few minutes of smoking marijuana, some users may feel more relaxed, calm, talkative, sometimes drowsy and generally experience an increase in appetite, particularly for sweets. Other users experience more adverse effects such as anxiety, nervousness, paranoia, terror and depression.

Marijuana also impairs short-term memory and decreases the ability to concentrate on tasks, thus ordinary activities such as riding a bicycle or driving a car become serious hazards. Sensory perceptions are enhanced thus colours are brighter, sounds are louder and the euphoria distorts the normal sense of time and space. With larger doses some users have hallucinations, an accelerated heart rate, and a loss of coordination and balance. These short term effects usually last for 2 to 4 hours.

The long term effects are much more disconcerting. A single marijuana joint contains four times as much tar as the strongest cigarette which greatly increases the risk of developing lung cancer. Chronic marijuana smokers are prey to chest colds, bronchitis, emphysema, and bronchial asthma. Regular use can delay the onset of puberty in young men and reduce sperm production as well as inhibiting ovulation in young women [3]. Studies suggest that marijuana affects the development of unborn children with symptoms much like those seen in children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Heavy users have problems with short-term memory, concentration and abstract thinking. Although some of these problems disappear after a few weeks without drugs, some last for years. [4]

1. J.E. Joy, S.J. Watson, J.A. Bensen, editors, MARIJUANA AND MEDICINE: ASSESSING THE SCIENCE BASE (Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 00-00-98), p. 207.

2. "Cigarettes, Alcohol, Marijuana: Gateways to Illicit Drug Use," Study conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, 10-00-94.

3. American Council for Drug Education

4. The Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission has more on this.

[sparkygirl]

I do not know for sure, maybe I was just lucky. I never smoked pot in my life, but my husband I believe he does at least twice a week.

We had 3 beautiful and healthy kids and I got pregnant using birth control. So I guess I was lucky, but I heard a lot people saying that does affect in some ways.

[MicheleSC]

I know people who have smoked regularly and didn't have any problems conceiving and had healthy children. I would think it would be best to avoid it, though.

[RussianBlue]

Well, I am not concerned about myself as I don't smoke or drink. But my husband smokes occassionally.

[matt]

When I was in high school I smoked between a quarter bag and a half ounce pretty much everyday for 3 years. haha, one of the many reasons I joined the Marine Corps.

I have 2 happy and healthy kids, but i also haven't done any drugs outside of testosterone-based in about 7 years. And nothing heavy like before since then, 11 or 12 years ago.

The memory thing is right on for me though. I can't remember shit.... :dry:

Don't do drugs kids.

[trigirl]

Originally posted by MicheleSC@Jul 3 2006, 07:15 AM
I know people who have smoked regularly and didn't have any problems conceiving and had healthy children. I would think it would be best to avoid it, though.
Agree. Why take the chance? I'm sure your hubby can go off weed for awhile while you are trying to conceive -- just think of everything we give up while pregnant to try to ensure a healthy baby.

[RussianBlue]

Originally posted by trigirl@Jul 4 2006, 12:32 PM
Agree. Why take the chance? I'm sure your hubby can go off weed for awhile while you are trying to conceive -- just think of everything we give up while pregnant to try to ensure a healthy baby.
Yeah, I pretty much told him that yesterday.
No more weed for you!
Next I make give up the beer!!! :lol:

[Pinky]

Dh's friend was positive he was infertile as he did so many drugs, pot included, and lo and behold, he has two kids, both conceived in his late teens.



Studies suggest that marijuana affects the development of unborn children with symptoms much like those seen in children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

HOWEVER, if you read further into these "studies" it also mentions that these marijuana users also smoked cigarettes and drank. So it is not certain that these effects are from the pot or the alcohol and cigarettes. I am not, by any means saying it is ok to smoke while pg. I am just saying that I have done a lot of research on this, and I could not find concrete evidence that marijuana use, solely, lead to any birth defects. With the exception that you may have a lower birthweight, which can pose other issues, just as smoking cigarettes can.

[magic]

Something about the title of this thread, Smoking pot and sperm. :wth: :funny:

[colo1278]

while googling how fast sperm swims for another thread in here, I found this:

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=...le.ns?id=dn4267 (http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn4267http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn4267)

apparently, if the man smokes pot, the sperm are initally faster but then "burn out" by the time they get to the egg, meaning they may not be active enough to actually penetrate and fertilize it.