Emily Oster

2 min Read Emily Oster

Emily Oster

Does Marijuana Use Affect Sperm?

Q&A on sperm and TTC

Emily Oster

2 min Read

Any updated information on pot and sperm counts?

—Anonymous

There is continual speculation that marijuana consumption could lower sperm counts or, more generally, impact sperm. It’s not just the number of sperm you have that is relevant. It’s the quality — their shape, how good they are at swimming, etc. There are lots of things that affect sperm. Tight underwear, for example.

In mice, marijuana exposure is linked to infertility. There are biological reasons to think the link might be in people too. There is a 2021 review that pulls together what we know about marijuana consumption and sperm parameters. It does conclude that marijuana is linked to lower sperm counts and worse sperm quality.

However: the evidence is limited. Part of the problem is that sperm quality evaluation isn’t something that people typically do for fun; it usually happens as a result of an evaluation for subfertility or infertility. What the data can show is evidence of a correlation between pot and sperm among a set of people who are experiencing infertility. It’s not clear that this applies in general.

In principle, one could imagine doing an evaluation of this question in healthy men, especially since sperm gets regenerated over time. You could take a cohort of regular marijuana users and encourage a “treatment group” to abstain for a certain period, and measure sperm over time. I am not aware of any studies that have done that. What we can say for now is that the link seems possible and, if you’re struggling with male infertility, it is worth evaluating.

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Happy fall, everyone! What parenting moments do you look forward to (or dread) when the season changes? Let me know in the comments 🍂

#daylightsavings #parentingtips #parentinghumor #fallactivities #emilyoster

Happy fall, everyone! What parenting moments do you look forward to (or dread) when the season changes? Let me know in the comments 🍂

#daylightsavings #parentingtips #parentinghumor #fallactivities #emilyoster
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Listen to this episode now and subscribe to ParentData with Emily Oster in your favorite podcast app 🎧

#parentdata #parentdatapodcast #midwives #midwifery #epidural #emilyoster

Curious about the role of midwives in childbirth? Today on the ParentData Podcast, we have Ann Ledbetter help us dive into all things midwives—exploring their unique approaches, the impact on birth outcomes, and what makes midwife care distinct.

Listen to this episode now and subscribe to ParentData with Emily Oster in your favorite podcast app 🎧

#parentdata #parentdatapodcast #midwives #midwifery #epidural #emilyoster
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#TheUnexpected gives tools to better understand and help the parents you love. Link in bio to learn more about the book! If you’ve read it, what stuck out most to you? Share in the comments below 💛

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Parenthood isn’t something anyone should navigate alone. It’s about showing up for the moms, dads, and families in your circle—especially when things don’t go as planned. Whether it’s a pregnancy complication or the challenges of postpartum life, we can all play a part in supporting each other.

#TheUnexpected gives tools to better understand and help the parents you love. Link in bio to learn more about the book! If you’ve read it, what stuck out most to you? Share in the comments below 💛

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 A little soap or mold from toys isn’t harmful, and diluted pee is no big deal. Eating a lot of poop can make you sick, but in small amounts, it isn’t toxic.

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💧 Is your kid drinking bathwater? Here’s the 411: It’s gross but not dangerous! Comment “Link” for my full guide to bathtime.

A little soap or mold from toys isn’t harmful, and diluted pee is no big deal. Eating a lot of poop can make you sick, but in small amounts, it isn’t toxic.

Bottom line: Bathwater isn’t your kid’s best drink option, but don’t stress too much! Just keep an eye on them during bathtime for safety.

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Why is it that schools always call mom, even when dad’s the one with more availability? Comment “Link” to dive into the data on inequality in parental workloads.

A study shows just how deep the gender divide runs when it comes to household labor—even in something as simple as a phone call. Does this ring true for you? Share your experience in the comments 👇

#gendergap #momstruggles #parentsupport #emilyoster #parentdata
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Is your child getting enough sleep? 💤 Kids need 9-11 hours of rest for better focus, behavior, and health. Comment “Link” for an article on the importance of sleep and how to help your kids get more of it. It’s time to make sleep a priority!

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Share this with a mom you think is doing great!

#parentdata #emilyoster #motherhood #barbiemovie

Here’s my rant on motherhood inspired by the Barbie movie. Motherhood is hard enough without the unsolicited expectations we’re constantly assigned. As I always say, there is no secret option c. You’re doing great, and I hope you know that!

Share this with a mom you think is doing great!

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What’s the most recent panic headline you’ve seen? Drop it in the comments and let’s break it down together! ⬇️

#parentdata #emilyoster #panicheadline #datadriven #riskmanagement #parentingstruggles
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Listen to this episode now and subscribe to ParentData with Emily Oster in your favorite podcast app 🎧

#parentdata #parentdatapodcast #theanxiousgeneration #kidsmentalhealth #screentime #jonathanhaidt #emilyoster

Is constant phone access impacting your child’s development? 📵 Today on the ParentData podcast, listen to @profemilyoster and @jonathanhaidt discuss the impact of phones and social media on learning and child mental health.

Listen to this episode now and subscribe to ParentData with Emily Oster in your favorite podcast app 🎧

#parentdata #parentdatapodcast #theanxiousgeneration #kidsmentalhealth #screentime #jonathanhaidt #emilyoster
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This is a sneak peek from the Saturday newsletter on ParentData. Want more parenting tips and insights? Subscribe now at the link in bio.

#parentdata #emilyoster #parentingadvice #parentingtips #parentingquotes #parentingishard

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This is a sneak peek from the Saturday newsletter on ParentData. Want more parenting tips and insights? Subscribe now at the link in bio.

#parentdata #emilyoster #parentingadvice #parentingtips #parentingquotes #parentingishard
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🚽 It takes longer than three days (based on the data!)
🚽 Your child will have trouble staying dry at night.
🚽 Poop sometimes comes later than pee – this is common, you just have to work through it.

Comment “Link” for an article that breaks down potty training data from ParentData readers,  along with helpful tips and tricks.

#pottytraining #pottytrainingtips #pottytrainingproblems #parentdata #emilyoster

We’re heading into a three-day weekend, which means a lot of you might take the opportunity to do some potty training.

Here are some things to keep in mind:
🚽 It takes longer than three days (based on the data!)
🚽 Your child will have trouble staying dry at night.
🚽 Poop sometimes comes later than pee – this is common, you just have to work through it.

Comment “Link” for an article that breaks down potty training data from ParentData readers, along with helpful tips and tricks.

#pottytraining #pottytrainingtips #pottytrainingproblems #parentdata #emilyoster
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Trampoline parks: great way to get the sillies out or injury haven? Or both? Comment “Link” for an article breaking down a 2023 study on injury trends in trampoline parks.

Here’s a visualisation based on the paper, showing the injury rate by area. Beware the foam pit and the high-performance areas! Slam-dunking, though, seems fine.

#parentdata #emilyoster #trampolinepark #childsafety #trampolinefun
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Does your kid have any special or weird lunch requests? Share in the comments! Tap the link in my bio for more tips and inspiration #WholeFoodsMarket

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Does your kid have any special or weird lunch requests? Share in the comments! Tap the link in my bio for more tips and inspiration #WholeFoodsMarket
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#travelwithkids #jetlag #melatonin #parentingtips #parentdata #emilyoster

Travel is already stressful. Add kids to the equation, and it becomes even more complicated. Here are 3 tips and considerations for handling jet lag in kids.

#travelwithkids #jetlag #melatonin #parentingtips #parentdata #emilyoster
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