How Marijuana Use May Impact Ovulation
For anyone with ovaries, especially those who want to get pregnant, ovulation—a critical stage of the menstrual cycle—is vital to reproductive health.
If you’re tracking your ovulation and want to learn more about what might help or hinder your overall fertility, you may be wondering if using cannabis affects when (or if) you ovulate.
Recent studies have shown that cannabis use reduces the frequency of ovulation, delays cycles, or even temporarily stops them. Talking to a marijuana doctor is always advised before using marijuana for medical purposes. In order to protect you from legal repercussions and enable you to legally obtain medical marijuana in your state, the doctor will evaluate your condition, prescribe a dosage that is safe for your body, and issue you a medical card online.
To learn more about the current, if limited, research on marijuana’s effects on female ovulation and fertility, continue reading.
The Impact of Marijuana Use on Ovulation
The effects of marijuana on ovulation seem to be largely influenced by hormones.
Women who used cannabis in the weeks before getting pregnant had a 40% lower chance of getting pregnant within a month than women who did not, per a 2021 National Institutes of Health (NIH) study.
After looking at participant blood samples, researchers discovered that cannabis users had higher levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), the hormone that causes ovulation.
Even though this might seem beneficial (you have a better chance of ovulation if you have more LH, right?) In fact, the opposite is true. Because of this rise in LH, study participants had a higher LH ratio than follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH is the hormone that causes your ovaries to produce more eggs.
If a high LH to FSH ratio prevents your body from producing a mature egg that is ready for sperm fertilization, your ovulation phase may be delayed or skipped completely.
Another 2019 study found that ovulation delays of up to 3.5 days occurred in about 200 women who smoked cannabis at least once a day over the preceding three months. Again, the study found that this delay was due to THC’s effect on the reproductive hormones involved in the ovulation cycle.
Even though the current research is conflicting and lacking, these findings urge further investigation into the potential evidence of THC’s ability to change the levels of reproductive hormones.
Does the Method of Cannabis Ingestion Make a Difference?
There is currently no research on how various forms of consumption (edibles, topicals, etc.) affect the female ovulation cycle. Regardless of how it was consumed, the amount of THC in the body is the primary factor affecting how cannabis affects ovulation.
A study that looked at the smoking habits of soon-to-be fathers found that couples with male partners who smoke marijuana more than once a week are more likely to miscarry than couples with male partners who do not smoke. But perhaps more significant than the method of consumption is how cannabis impacts male reproductive hormones.
Other Ways Cannabis May Affect Female Fertility
Marijuana use may negatively impact in vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments in addition to its effects on the ovulation cycle. One study found that former marijuana users had 25% fewer successful egg retrieval attempts and 28% fewer successfully fertilized eggs. Because THC is found in breast milk and can also cross the placenta during pregnancy, there is some concern that marijuana may be harmful to the developing fetus and child.
Although much more research is needed, most doctors advise against using cannabis while trying to conceive in favor of alternative pain or relaxation techniques like warm baths or light exercise.
Wrapping Up!
It is important to keep in mind that the limited and non-randomized research on marijuana and ovulation is small. More research is needed to determine how cannabis use affects ovulation and fertility, and patients should be cautious when interpreting the results that are currently available. It’s crucial to discuss cannabis use and ovulation with your doctor if you have any concerns.
Cannabis has many incredible users and can help people in many ways. If you are not looking to get pregnant, you can apply for an online medical marijuana card in Bakersfield, in your home state. The California Online Clinic is open and ready to offer you beneficial guidance as you move through the application process.