Painkillers and Male Fertility

by Andrew Mason

Medications and Male Infertility

Did you know that several commonly used painkillers are known to affect male fertility?

Acetaminophen

A recent study in mice showed both short- and long-term use of acetaminophen (aka Tylenol or Paracetamol) in normal and high dosages causes damage to sperm quality and DNA integrity and increases sperm DNA fragmentation.

Ibuprofen

Another study has linked Ibuprofen (aka Advil) with reduced testosterone production and hypogonadism, which is associated with compromised reproductive health.

Opioids

And regular opioid use is known to interfere with testicular production of sperm and testosterone, reduce sperm count, and increase sperm DNA fragmentation, all of which inhibit male fertility. 

Conclusion

Since sperm take nearly 3 months to form, it’s advisable to seek professional help or do your own research on any fertility impacts of medications you plan to use in the months leading up to conception. 

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