News | Does cannabis necessarily impair male hormones? Swiss study offers a different answer
For a long time, cannabis has been widely believed to potentially impair male reproductive health, particularly by lowering testosterone levels and affecting sperm quality. However, a recent study from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) in Switzerland challenges this long-held belief.
The study found that after young men used cannabis, their testosterone levels did not decline but instead increased by approximately 23%. However, the researchers also emphasized that this hormonal change cannot be directly equated with improved fertility, and the true impact of cannabis on male reproductive health remains complex and not yet fully clarified.
The related research has been published in Communications Medicine.
This study was conducted jointly by the team of Professor Serge Rudaz from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, together with the Swiss Center for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT).
The research team analyzed plasma samples from 94 Swiss male conscripts aged 18 to 23 years, including 47 confirmed cannabis users and 47 non-users.
Unlike previous studies that only measured testosterone, this study expanded the scope of testing, conducting in-depth analysis of hundreds of steroid hormones, including androgens, progestogens, and estrogens.
The researchers stated that this is also one of the most important innovations of the study.
The results showed that testosterone levels in cannabis users increased by an average of approximately 23%.
Further analysis revealed that this increase originated mainly from the testes themselves, rather than the adrenal glands.
"Our results show that cannabis use may lead to an approximately 23% increase in testosterone levels in young men. By further analyzing all androgens, we were able to confirm that this increase comes mainly from the testes, not the adrenal glands," said Professor Rudaz.
The study suggests that cannabis may act directly on Leydig cells in the testes, which are the key cells responsible for synthesizing testosterone.
In addition to testosterone changes, the research team also identified two new hormonal biomarkers potentially associated with cannabis use: 11-beta-hydroxyprogesterone (11B-OHP4) and 5-beta-dihydroprogesterone (5B-DHP4).
Both substances are derived from progesterone metabolism.
The researchers noted that the concentrations of these two metabolites were significantly elevated in cannabis users, and in the future they may serve as important indicators for monitoring endocrine changes caused by long-term cannabis exposure.
Mathieu Galmiche, first author of the paper and currently affiliated with the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, stated that this finding suggests the scientific community needs to refocus attention on previously overlooked hormones.
"This finding means that future research should not only focus on testosterone, but also expand to include more important hormones that have been previously overlooked but may affect the male reproductive system," he said.
However, the research team particularly emphasized that elevated testosterone does not mean improved male fertility.
In fact, the relationship between cannabis and male fertility still contains a great deal of uncertainty.
Some previous studies have pointed out that cannabis may reduce sperm count, concentration, and motility, and these changes are generally believed to be related to the endocannabinoid system. This system is present in the brain and reproductive organs and participates in regulating sex hormones.
However, the results of past related studies have long been contradictory, especially regarding the question of "whether cannabis lowers testosterone," where consistent conclusions have always been lacking.
The researchers believe that the observed increase in testosterone may not necessarily mean enhanced reproductive function.
One possible explanation is that cannabis may reduce the sensitivity of some androgen receptors, and the body therefore compensates by increasing testosterone secretion.
Another possibility is that men with inherently higher testosterone levels are more prone to risk-taking behavior and are therefore also more likely to come into contact with and use cannabis.
The researchers stated that it is currently impossible to confirm what long-term clinical impact cannabis may have on male fertility.
They believe that larger-scale studies are still needed in the future to further determine whether cannabis has a reproductive toxicity threshold, and whether long-term exposure may have lasting effects on the male reproductive system.
As more and more countries and regions around the world relax restrictions on cannabis, the impact of cannabis on reproductive health is becoming an important issue in the field of public health.
And this study also reminds people once again: hormonal changes and actual fertility cannot simply be equated.
Story source:
Collected from the internet
Author LinkedIVF TeamPublished 2026-06-05
This article used AI assistance; LinkedIVF has not recorded an editorial review for this item. It is not medical advice.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a licensed physician. Content guidelines & editorial policy
News | Does Cannabis Definitely Harm Male Hormones? Swiss Study Offers a Different Answer
News | Does cannabis necessarily impair male hormones? Swiss study offers a different answer
For a long time, cannabis has been widely believed to potentially impair male reproductive health, particularly by lowering testosterone levels and affecting sperm quality. However, a recent study from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) in Switzerland challenges this long-held belief.
The study found that after young men used cannabis, their testosterone levels did not decline but instead increased by approximately 23%. However, the researchers also emphasized that this hormonal change cannot be directly equated with improved fertility, and the true impact of cannabis on male reproductive health remains complex and not yet fully clarified.
The related research has been published in Communications Medicine.
This study was conducted jointly by the team of Professor Serge Rudaz from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, together with the Swiss Center for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT).
The research team analyzed plasma samples from 94 Swiss male conscripts aged 18 to 23 years, including 47 confirmed cannabis users and 47 non-users.
Unlike previous studies that only measured testosterone, this study expanded the scope of testing, conducting in-depth analysis of hundreds of steroid hormones, including androgens, progestogens, and estrogens.
The researchers stated that this is also one of the most important innovations of the study.
The results showed that testosterone levels in cannabis users increased by an average of approximately 23%.
Further analysis revealed that this increase originated mainly from the testes themselves, rather than the adrenal glands.
"Our results show that cannabis use may lead to an approximately 23% increase in testosterone levels in young men. By further analyzing all androgens, we were able to confirm that this increase comes mainly from the testes, not the adrenal glands," said Professor Rudaz.
The study suggests that cannabis may act directly on Leydig cells in the testes, which are the key cells responsible for synthesizing testosterone.
In addition to testosterone changes, the research team also identified two new hormonal biomarkers potentially associated with cannabis use: 11-beta-hydroxyprogesterone (11B-OHP4) and 5-beta-dihydroprogesterone (5B-DHP4).
Both substances are derived from progesterone metabolism.
The researchers noted that the concentrations of these two metabolites were significantly elevated in cannabis users, and in the future they may serve as important indicators for monitoring endocrine changes caused by long-term cannabis exposure.
Mathieu Galmiche, first author of the paper and currently affiliated with the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, stated that this finding suggests the scientific community needs to refocus attention on previously overlooked hormones.
"This finding means that future research should not only focus on testosterone, but also expand to include more important hormones that have been previously overlooked but may affect the male reproductive system," he said.
However, the research team particularly emphasized that elevated testosterone does not mean improved male fertility.
In fact, the relationship between cannabis and male fertility still contains a great deal of uncertainty.
Some previous studies have pointed out that cannabis may reduce sperm count, concentration, and motility, and these changes are generally believed to be related to the endocannabinoid system. This system is present in the brain and reproductive organs and participates in regulating sex hormones.
However, the results of past related studies have long been contradictory, especially regarding the question of "whether cannabis lowers testosterone," where consistent conclusions have always been lacking.
The researchers believe that the observed increase in testosterone may not necessarily mean enhanced reproductive function.
One possible explanation is that cannabis may reduce the sensitivity of some androgen receptors, and the body therefore compensates by increasing testosterone secretion.
Another possibility is that men with inherently higher testosterone levels are more prone to risk-taking behavior and are therefore also more likely to come into contact with and use cannabis.
The researchers stated that it is currently impossible to confirm what long-term clinical impact cannabis may have on male fertility.
They believe that larger-scale studies are still needed in the future to further determine whether cannabis has a reproductive toxicity threshold, and whether long-term exposure may have lasting effects on the male reproductive system.
As more and more countries and regions around the world relax restrictions on cannabis, the impact of cannabis on reproductive health is becoming an important issue in the field of public health.
And this study also reminds people once again: hormonal changes and actual fertility cannot simply be equated.
Story source:
Collected from the internet