With cannabis-based products becoming increasingly popular for anxiety and endometriosis pain, new research has raised important concerns about their impact on fertility.
A/Prof Alex Polyakov, Medical Director at Genea Fertility Melbourne and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne, says women trying to conceive, naturally or through IVF, should avoid cannabis in all forms.
“Based on the findings, my advice is clear, if someone is trying to conceive or doing IVF, they should not be using cannabis products,” says Polyakov.
The study, led by researchers at the University of Toronto, found that THC, the active compound in cannabis, can disrupt chromosomes in eggs, increasing the risk of miscarriage and lowering fertilisation rates. Because THC levels in the blood mirror those in follicular fluid, Polyakov explains that “all eggs are directly exposed to the same concentration,” potentially raising miscarriage risks in younger women.
