Cannabis 'is making teenagers impotent', say doctors

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1770

Cannabis 'is making teenagers impotent', say doctors
By MAUREEN CULLEY» Last updated at 01:04am on 28th April 2008


Growing numbers of teenagers are being treated for impotence after smoking cannabis for several years

Growing numbers of teenage boys are being treated for impotence after smoking cannabis for several years.

Doctors have reported a large rise in cases of young men seeking advice to combat potential lifelong impotence.

They said most have a history of heavy cannabis abuse.

Experts are now calling for more research to be carried out into the links between sexual dysfunction and the drug.

Anecdotal evidence already points towards its role in causing impotence and in lowering testosterone and sexual desire.

Ian Russell, a specialist nurse practitioner in andrology and urology at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary in Scotland, said:

"In my clinic I see youngsters from the age of 17 onwards with sexual dysfunction. The age of onset of smoking cannabis is young, ten-year-olds in some areas.

"Puberty's kicking in and they're smoking regularly - five, six joints a week.

"This can potentially suppress and traumatise the formation of leydig cells, which secrete testosterone, in the testes.

"It means these kids, when they hit 14 or 15, will have sexual problems; for instance, not being able to get an erection, and possibly not have any sexual desire and a very, very low testosterone level.

"This is not healthy, let's put it that way."

Professor Sheena Lewis, one of the UK's leading experts on male reproduction, said: "I don't know of anyone who has done research on impotence and cannabis. It's about time someone did."

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