ABSTRACT
Drugs have the ability to pass through the placenta to affect the health of the fetus and the health of the mother-to-be. Drug abuse has saturated our society to the extent that specific drugs have become commonplace among young adults. An estimated 5 percent to 10 percent of women of childbearing age use illicit drugs on a regular basis. The degree of reproductive risks from drug use depends on many factors. A major factor is the amount of a drug that is taken, how frequently it is used, and the amount of active ingredients in the street drugs. The reproductive system is unusual among bodily systems in the complexity that control it, and that must operate in order for it to function properly. The effects of marihuana and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on sperm development have been noted. The effects of narcotic drugs have been observed in addicts. Such decreased sexual desire, performance, and menstrual irregularities can be found among narcotic users.
