Blood, Urine, and Saliva Aren’t the Only Bodily Fluids That Retain THC

Just about everybody knows that THC can be detected in blood, saliva, and urine. But here is a strange cannabis fact that might just blow your mind. THC can also be detected in semen. A group of Harvard researchers conducted a study on this very topic. After many days of studying and testing, Harvard researchers concluded that THC was detectable in semen.

Researchers conducted a study on a group of 12 participants. All 12 men were frequent cannabis consumers. Of the 12 participants, two of them showed up with the testable amounts of THC in their semen. One of the two men had 0.87 nanograms per ML, and the other had 0.97 nanograms per ml.

The consumers were not weekend tokers. All the participants had to have consumed cannabis at least 25 days in the last month. Most of them had also been regular consumers for five years or better. This tends to make some people wonder what the results would be like from a consumer that smoked every day several times a day for 40 years. The researchers from Harvard were puzzled that all participants did not have detectable levels of THC in their semen.

Experts Weigh in on THC Found in Semen

They were quoted saying, “it is puzzling that some, but not all, semen samples tested positive for THC. There were no obvious factors that were strongly associated with detectable semen THC. Thus, we can propose few predictors of the presence of THC in human semen. Future directions of research include identifying characteristics that may affect semen detectable THC levels.” The Harvard study goes on to note that when it comes to research about cannabis and the reproductive system, “evidence linking marijuana to reproductive outcomes is scarce and to date, often conflicting.”

The study conducted by Harvard noted that “In the setting of a growing repository of data surrounding the effects of the endocannabinoid system in the regulation and maintenance of fertility and early pregnancy, ours is the first report that exogenous cannabinoid THC can be detected in any human reproductive matrix.” As cannabis legalization happens in more places across the United States and around the world, the research surrounding this misunderstood plant will begin to advance.

Some Questions Answered Others Presented

This study has definitely opened up a door for many new questions. When it comes to the studies of THC and human sperm, they are very limited. More thorough control testing is needed in order to carry this research further. Current methods of research involved sperm that is washed with THC or incubated with THC in a laboratory environment. Self-reporting is another method. The overall goal of a study such as this one would be to understand the effects that cannabinoids have on the beginning phases of human reproduction. Insight such as this could help us to better understand how prenatal consumption of cannabis affects the unborn child not only in the womb but throughout their lives.