Association of cannabis use with female infertility based on NHANES

Abstract

Background With the gradual legalisation of recreational cannabis, associated health effects have received widespread attention, but their association with female infertility remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the association between cannabis use and infertility among females of childbearing age in the United States.Methods Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2018; 1694 female participants aged 18–45 years were included. The association between cannabis use and female infertility was analysed by logistic regression analysis. All data were weighted before analysis.Results After adjusting for all covariates, former cannabis users demonstrated significantly elevated odds of infertility compared with never-users (odds ratio: 2.04, 95% confidence interval: 1.21–3.43, P = 0.012), whereas current cannabis users exhibited no significant difference in infertility odds relative to never-users. In subgroup analysis, former users aged 18–35 years exhibited higher odds of infertility than never-users (odds ratio: 2.37, 95% confidence interval: 1.11–5.04, P = 0.027); but former cannabis users aged 36–45 years demonstrated no significant difference in infertility odds compared with never-users. Among former cannabis users aged 18–35 years, those with sustained abstinence exceeding 3 years demonstrated significantly elevated odds of infertility compared with never-users (odds ratio: 2.94, 95% confidence interval: 1.29–6.71, P = 0.005). In contrast, individuals with shorter abstinence durations (3 years of cessation), and this adverse association is more pronounced among females in the most active reproductive years (18–35).

Keywords

• NHANES
• cannabis
• infertility
• female
• health effects
• cross-sectional study