Cannabis and Human Fertility

Fertility is the sexual activity of reproduction. This condition must be present in both sexes so that together obtain the desired result of procreation. It occurs when the egg fuses with sperm while in one of the fallopian tubes, giving way to fertilization, considering that both sexes must have all the optimal anatomical aspects to achieve fertilization. In the female sex, the quality of the egg is important, directly linked to embryo implantation in the uterus and the possibility of miscarriage. The fallopian tubes must be open. The presence of lesions in this anatomical area because of endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, or sexually transmitted infections, can prevent the eggs from reaching the uterus, and not achieving fertilization. Male fertility is highly dependent on adequate sperm production or spermatogenesis, sperm quality, and the ability of the sperm to go outside to fuse with the egg and achieve fertilization. Several investigations have been conducted on the role of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the reproductive apparatus, discovering its importance in successful reproduction to occur. Today, the endocannabinoid system is considered a major system deeply involved in controlling several physiological processes, including fertility. Recent evidence suggests that the endogenous cannabinoid system, consisting of receptors and neurotransmission - where the best-known receptors are CB1 and CB2 and their multiple cannabinoid ligands - may play a relevant role in the maintenance and regulation of early pregnancy and fertility. The endocannabinoid system participates in processes such as folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation, ovarian endocrine secretion, embryo transport through the oviducts, implantation, uterine decidualization, and placentation. However, the endocannabinoid system also has a role in spermiogenesis. The research showed, for the first time in 1993, that CB1 receptors were present in human testes. While, In 2002, a study noted the presence of anandamide -a relevant endocannabinoid - in human seminal fluid and CB1 receptors in spermatozoa. The CB1 receptor is in round spermatids during acrosome development, elongation, and nuclear condensation. This text seeks the understanding of the endocannabinoid system's role in fertility by exploring male and female sexual organs, menstrual cycle's phases, ovulation, and spermatogenesis. Join us in exploring the world of cannabis and fertility as only Pharmacology University can show you.