Is CBD Safe When You're Hoping to Get Pregnant?

There is no shortage of holistic treatment ideas when you’re trying to get pregnant. Ask away, and you’ll get more than enough suggestions from friends and family. Things like meditation, acupuncture, and hypnosis are just some of the few traditional ways of allegedly boosting your chances of conceiving a child or at least improving your fertility. 

But while you may look at hypnosis and acupuncture as unconventional, how would you react to cannabidiol or CBD? There’s an ongoing debate on the prospect of using this non-psychoactive component of the hemp plant for improving fertility in women who are desperately trying to get pregnant. 

Perhaps you’re aware of the healing effects of CBD for health issues like chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia. But boosting fertility and chances of conceiving sounds like a stretch. Or is it? 

There’s no blaming you for being skeptical when it comes to using a compound that comes from the same cannabis plant from which marijuana is derived. But there’s a good reason why the prospect of using CBD for fertility is gaining ground. 

Despite the lack of universally recognized proof that CBD is effective, there’s been a remarkable increase in the popularity of CBD oil products that supposedly treat a host of common ailments and chronic conditions. 

Your main concern is that CBD may have a devastating effect on your baby. It’s not a dumbfounded idea, especially when we look at previous studies that revealed how THC, a cannabis compound, may affect pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists insist that women should stop using marijuana before getting pregnant since it considerably affects the development of the fetus, especially in the first trimester. 

CBD is not THC

There is a crucial distinction to make: CBD isn’t THC. Although both are compounds derived from the same cannabis plant, they are very different. THC is the psychoactive constituent of cannabis. It is the one that causes a person to feel “high.” Like THC, CBD is a cannabinoid. But what makes CBD different is that it does not have psychoactive properties. So, if the psychoactive properties of THC are what affects fetal development during pregnancy, it is safe to say that CBD won’t affect the child and the mother. 

There remains no proof if CBD products derived from cannabis has a negative effect on pregnancy, but it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that it is safe to use for those who are trying to get fertile. Additional research and study are needed to figure out if CBD oil affects the fetus, but it is interesting to know that an experiment conducted on mouse embryos revealed that a compound called anandamide inhibits the development of the embryo. Anandamide production in the body is increased when an individual uses CBD. 

For now, experts recommend that couples who find it hard to conceive must play it safe. It is not like using CBD may very well be the reason why they cannot conceive. The best course of action is to seek a doctor’s advice before you decide to try CBD oil for fertility.