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Ibuprofen causes infertility?

January 9, 2018 | Expert Insights

A new study that has been published has linked the intake of the popular drug Ibuprofen to infertility among men. It stated that taking the drug for as little as two weeks may ultimately hinder sperm production.

Background

Ibuprofen is a medication in the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) class that is used for treating pain, fever, and inflammation. This includes painful menstrual periods, migraines, and rheumatoid arthritis. About 60% of people improve with any given NSAID, and it is recommended that if one does not work then another should be tried. It may also be used to close a patent ductus arteriosus in a premature baby. It can be used by mouth or intravenously. It typically begins working within an hour.

A study of pregnant women suggests those taking any type or amount of NSAIDs (including ibuprofen, diclofenac and naproxen) were 2.4 times more likely to miscarry than those not taking the drugs. However, an Israeli study found no increased risk of miscarriage in the group of mothers using NSAIDs

Analysis

A new study that has been published has linked the intake of the popular drug Ibuprofen to infertility among men. It stated that taking the drug for as little as two weeks may ultimately hinder sperm production. Details of the study are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The researchers in the study noted, “Concern has been raised over increased male reproductive disorders in the Western world, and the disruption of male endocrinology has been suggested to play a central role. Several studies have shown that mild analgesics exposure during fetal life is associated with antiandrogenic effects and congenital malformations, but the effects on the adult man remain largely unknown.”

Researchers part of the study found that prolonged, high-dosage use of Ibuprofen could result in changes in the levels of so-called “luteinizing hormones.” This is known to induce the testicles to produce testosterone. Subjects who was took Ibuprofen for the study were found to have developed hypogonadism, which is prevalent in older men and is sometimes connected to male infertility.

Advil and Motrin are two brand names for ibuprofen, an over-the-counter pain reliever. Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, which make these products have not yet commented on the study. Mike Tringale, a spokesman for Consumer Healthcare Products Association, a trade group, has stated that the group supports continued research on the matter. He said, “The safety and efficacy of active ingredients in these products has been well documented and supported by decades of scientific study and real-world use.”

Bernard Jégou, co-author and director of the Institute of Research in Environmental and Occupational Health in France has noted that this study was a continuation of the one conducted on pregnant women. “Our immediate concern is for the fertility of men who use these drugs for a long time,” said David Møbjerg Kristensen at the University of Copenhagen. “These compounds are good painkillers, but a certain amount of people in society use them without thinking of them as proper medicines. In the living body the pituitary gland kicks in to compensate for this, but the brain is pushing more to get the same amount of testosterone. If you go on and stress the pituitary gland over the long term, this state could become permanent and you develop a more serious condition.”

The research team recruited 31 male volunteers between the ages of 18 and 35. Of these, 14 were given a daily dosage of ibuprofen that many professional and amateur athletes take: 600 milligrams twice a day. The drug is often taken by athletes.

Assessment

Our assessment is that continued research is imperative for over the counter drugs that are taken regularly. The side effects described by the two studies on Ibuprofen indicate serious consequences for those who take it. Having said that, the changes described in the study were found in those taking the drug continuously. Ibuprofen is generally taken in large doses by mostly athletes; however everyone should be mindful nevertheless.