We don’t talk enough about sperm. Male reproductive cells rarely come up in everyday conversation (of course, it’s not a topic for the family dinner table with Grandma, but it definitely should be addressed with the seriousness it deserves), and as a result, men rarely dare to open up about it with their doctors.
Is it taboo, ignorance, or just laziness? Lack of commitment, neglect, or plain disdain? Whatever the case, from a biological standpoint, it’s a truly important topic. Especially when there’s a desire for fatherhood. From there, some fundamental questions arise: Is there any correlation between cannabis and sperm? For instance, is there any difference between CBD and THC effects? Could weed change sperm count? We’ve got your attention now, right?
Let’s start with the basics: there’s a biological mechanism by which cannabinoids, like THC and CBD, can interact with the male reproductive system, namely the CB1 and CB2 receptors. Because of these receptors, which act on the male reproductive tract, including the testicles and sperm, both THC and CBD seem to alter Sertoli cells, which are responsible for providing structural and metabolic support during spermatogenesis (the process of sperm formation and maturation).
“Sertoli cells are the ‘nurse cells’ of the testicle,” explains Lex Pelger, a science communicator in the cannabis world, author of the newsletter Cannabinoids & the People, and host of not one, but two YouTube channels: CV Sciences and Cannabinoids & the People by Lex Pelger. “CBD and THC inhibit CatSper ion channels, which are necessary for more vigorous swimming, thus reducing the sperm’s ability to penetrate the egg. There are also some preclinical studies suggesting that cannabinoids modify the epigenetics of sperm production, leading to lower sperm quality,” he continues.
To support this point, he cites …
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Author: Marian Venini / High Times
