News | Does Cannabis Definitely Harm Male Hormones? Swiss Study Offers a Different Answer
For a long time, cannabis has been widely believed to potentially harm 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 perception.
The study found that after young men used cannabis, their testosterone levels did not decrease 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 fully understood.
The relevant study has been published in Communications Medicine.
This research was conducted jointly by the team of Professor Serge Rudaz from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, and the Swiss Center for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT).
The research team analyzed plasma samples from 94 Swiss male conscripts aged 18 to 23, including 47 confirmed cannabis users and 47 non-users.
Unlike previous studies that only tested testosterone, this study expanded the scope of testing to conduct an 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 primarily originated from the testes themselves, not the adrenal glands.
"Our results show that cannabis use may lead to an increase in testosterone levels of about 23% in young men. By further analyzing all androgens, we were able to confirm that this increase mainly comes from the testes, not the adrenal glands," said Professor Rudaz.
The study suggests that cannabis may directly act on Leydig cells in the testes, which are the key cells responsible for synthesizing testosterone.
In addition to changes in testosterone, the research team also identified two novel hormonal biomarkers potentially associated with cannabis use: 11β-hydroxyprogesterone (11B-OHP4) and 5β-dihydroprogesterone (5B-DHP4).
Both substances are derived from progesterone metabolism.
The researchers pointed out that concentrations of these two metabolites were significantly elevated in cannabis users, and they may serve as important indicators for monitoring endocrine changes caused by long-term cannabis exposure in the future.
Mathieu Galmiche, the first author of the paper, currently affiliated with the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, stated that this finding suggests the scientific community needs to refocus on previously overlooked hormones.
"This discovery means that future research should not only focus on testosterone but also expand to include other important hormones that have been neglected but may affect the male reproductive system," he said.
However, the research team particularly emphasized that an increase in testosterone does not imply improved male fertility.
In fact, the relationship between cannabis and male fertility remains highly uncertain.
Previous studies have indicated that cannabis may reduce sperm count, concentration, and motility, and these changes are often thought to be related to the endocannabinoid system, which is present in the brain and reproductive organs and is involved in regulating sex hormones.
However, past research results have long been contradictory, especially regarding whether cannabis lowers testosterone, with no consistent conclusion.
The researchers believe that the observed increase in testosterone may not necessarily indicate enhanced reproductive function.
One possible explanation is that cannabis may reduce the sensitivity of some androgen receptors, leading the body to compensate by increasing testosterone secretion.
Another possibility is that men with inherently higher testosterone levels are more prone to risk-taking behaviors and thus more likely to use cannabis.
The researchers stated that it is currently unclear what long-term clinical impact cannabis may have on male fertility.
They believe that larger studies are still needed in the future to further determine whether there is a reproductive toxicity threshold for cannabis and whether long-term exposure will have lasting effects on the male reproductive system.
As more and more countries and regions around the world relax restrictions on cannabis, its impact on reproductive health is becoming an important public health issue.
This study also serves as a reminder that hormonal changes cannot be simply equated with actual fertility.
News | Does Cannabis Definitely Harm Male Hormones? Swiss Study Offers a Different Answer
News | Does Cannabis Definitely Harm Male Hormones? Swiss Study Offers a Different Answer
For a long time, cannabis has been widely believed to potentially harm 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 perception.
The study found that after young men used cannabis, their testosterone levels did not decrease 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 fully understood.
The relevant study has been published in Communications Medicine.
This research was conducted jointly by the team of Professor Serge Rudaz from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, and the Swiss Center for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT).
The research team analyzed plasma samples from 94 Swiss male conscripts aged 18 to 23, including 47 confirmed cannabis users and 47 non-users.
Unlike previous studies that only tested testosterone, this study expanded the scope of testing to conduct an 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 primarily originated from the testes themselves, not the adrenal glands.
"Our results show that cannabis use may lead to an increase in testosterone levels of about 23% in young men. By further analyzing all androgens, we were able to confirm that this increase mainly comes from the testes, not the adrenal glands," said Professor Rudaz.
The study suggests that cannabis may directly act on Leydig cells in the testes, which are the key cells responsible for synthesizing testosterone.
In addition to changes in testosterone, the research team also identified two novel hormonal biomarkers potentially associated with cannabis use: 11β-hydroxyprogesterone (11B-OHP4) and 5β-dihydroprogesterone (5B-DHP4).
Both substances are derived from progesterone metabolism.
The researchers pointed out that concentrations of these two metabolites were significantly elevated in cannabis users, and they may serve as important indicators for monitoring endocrine changes caused by long-term cannabis exposure in the future.
Mathieu Galmiche, the first author of the paper, currently affiliated with the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, stated that this finding suggests the scientific community needs to refocus on previously overlooked hormones.
"This discovery means that future research should not only focus on testosterone but also expand to include other important hormones that have been neglected but may affect the male reproductive system," he said.
However, the research team particularly emphasized that an increase in testosterone does not imply improved male fertility.
In fact, the relationship between cannabis and male fertility remains highly uncertain.
Previous studies have indicated that cannabis may reduce sperm count, concentration, and motility, and these changes are often thought to be related to the endocannabinoid system, which is present in the brain and reproductive organs and is involved in regulating sex hormones.
However, past research results have long been contradictory, especially regarding whether cannabis lowers testosterone, with no consistent conclusion.
The researchers believe that the observed increase in testosterone may not necessarily indicate enhanced reproductive function.
One possible explanation is that cannabis may reduce the sensitivity of some androgen receptors, leading the body to compensate by increasing testosterone secretion.
Another possibility is that men with inherently higher testosterone levels are more prone to risk-taking behaviors and thus more likely to use cannabis.
The researchers stated that it is currently unclear what long-term clinical impact cannabis may have on male fertility.
They believe that larger studies are still needed in the future to further determine whether there is a reproductive toxicity threshold for cannabis and whether long-term exposure will have lasting effects on the male reproductive system.
As more and more countries and regions around the world relax restrictions on cannabis, its impact on reproductive health is becoming an important public health issue.
This study also serves as a reminder that hormonal changes cannot be simply equated with actual fertility.
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