Does Smoking Weed Affect Your Chances of Getting Pregnant?

If you regularly use cannabis, you may wonder whether smoking weed will have an impact on your ability to conceive. Many of us know that smoking anything while pregnant is a no-go, but there is less readily available information about whether current or prior cannabis use has an impact on getting pregnant in the first place.

What we do know is that it is best to put a stop to smoking weed when you decide to try for a baby, as cannabis can lower your chances of conceiving and can negatively affect fertility in every person regardless of sex. Let's break down why it may be time to say goodbye to cannabis while trying to get pregnant.

Does Marijuana Affect Fertility?

Yes, marijuana does affect fertility and it is best to refrain from smoking weed while trying to get pregnant. A study from Oxford University found that people using cannabis were 40% less likely than non-users to become pregnant. It was also found to impact different levels of reproductive hormones tied to ovulation. In animal studies, cannabis has been shown to impact the uterine lining, decreasing the likelihood of an embryo implanting in the uterine wall.

"The current body of data would highly discourage cannabis consumption while trying to conceive," notes Jeff Chen, MD, MBA, a medical doctor and the founder of the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative.

What Is Cannabis?

Cannabis is the overarching word that refers to the 500 plus chemical substances found in the Cannabis sativa plant. Some of these substances, called cannabinoids, can be used to help you relax or be used to treat certain health conditions.

When people talk about smoking weed, they are usually referring to the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This substance is responsible for the "high" feeling you get from weed.

Why You Should Not Smoke Weed While Trying to Conceive

Smoking weed lowers your chance of getting pregnant and may lead to early pregnancy loss, where the embryo is unable to implant so it cannot survive.

When you do become pregnant, you may not know for two weeks or even longer. Using cannabis during this time could negatively affect the fetus. 

"THC can affect neurodevelopment of the brain cells and cause other problems," says Kristy June Dayanan, MD, a practicing physician and medical expert. This is just one reason why it's best to give up weed use a few weeks prior to trying.

How Smoking Weed Negatively Affects Fertility

Here's an in-depth look at how smoking weed reduces your chances of getting pregnant and may harm the growing baby:

• Makes it harder to get pregnant: When you're trying to have a baby, you want to stack the odds in your favor. Eliminating anything that might make it less likely for you to conceive is important. Skip the weed to help prepare your body for successful conception.
• Pregnancy complications: Studies have linked cannabis use during pregnancy with a greater likelihood of miscarriages, stillbirth, preterm births, and pregnancy complications, including placental abruption. "These newborns have increased risks of lower birth weight, length, and head circumference," notes Dr. Chen. "They are more likely to need NICU admission and have increased risks of physical and neurological abnormalities."
• Impaired cognitive development: Prenatal cannabis use has been associated with children having greater risks of decreased memory, verbal scores, mental development, and attention. "These children have a greater risk for depression, impulsivity, hyperactivity, psychosis, substance abuse, and delinquency," says Dr. Chen.
  

When Can I Resume Smoking Weed?

In most cases, you can start smoking weed again after you deliver your baby. Since cannabinoids pass easily through the placenta in amounts that are unsafe for your baby, once you get pregnant, it is important to continue abstaining until you give birth. "Exposure to cannabinoids can impact how baby’s neurotransmitters mature and function," says Dr. Chen.

THC also makes it into breast milk, so it is not currently recommended to smoke weed while breastfeeding. More research is needed to say for sure whether there is any safe amount of cannabis use while breastfeeding. Until we know more, it is best to refrain completely until your baby is fully weaned. "You don't want to risk the possibility of affecting the baby's development," says Dr. Dayanan.

Safe Alternatives To Cannabis While Trying to Conceive

If you turn to cannabis for stress relief or relaxation, there are a few alternatives you can try once you have decided to grow your family.

• Meditation: Mindfulness meditation, where you focus completely on the present moment, has been scientifically proven to reduce anxiety and help you relax. Every day, take a few minutes to pause and focus on your breathing. If it's hard for you to remember, or your schedule is jam-packed, consider meditating every morning upon waking or set an alarm to take a break during your day to meditate.
• Reduce Your Stress: Take a look at the stress points in your life. Write down all of your commitments and see if you can find anything to let go of. Many of us just can't let go of our current commitments, though, and if that's you, you can still find ways to reduce your stress.
• Yoga: A regular yoga practice can improve your overall well-being. Yoga has been found to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. This does not have to be an advanced or complicated practice. Take a class or watch a video to try some simple stretches and breathing exercises at your own comfort level.