Painkiller Ibuprofen may possibly lead to male infertility

Popular analgesic: Ibuprofen may be harmful to male fertility

Only recently, scientists from Denmark reported on a study, according to which paracetamol can lead to premature infertility in women. Apparently, another painkiller can affect reproductive performance: According to an international research team, ibuprofen may be harmful to male fertility.

Prescription painkillers with side effects

If you have a mild fever, quickly take a tablet of acetaminophen and swallow one ibuprofen for a headache: Many people assume that such painkillers are harmless because they are freely available. But such a careless handling of supposedly harmless means can be dangerous. The health risks of such preparations, such as stomach problems, have long been known. Even the risk of cardiac arrest can be increased by some means. However, it has not been known so far that ibuprofen may also affect the fertility of men.

Researchers have found that long-term use of higher doses of the painkiller ibuprofen may be detrimental to male fertility. (Image: Sherry Young / fotolia.com)

Impaired fertility due to ibuprofen intake

Men who take high doses of ibuprofen for months may be at greater risk for fertility problems and other health problems such as muscle wasting, erectile dysfunction, and fatigue.

This has been found out by an international research team.

The study, published in the journal "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" (PNAS), showed that prolonged ingestion of the drug interfered with the production of male sex hormones.

Production of male sex hormones is disturbed

Researchers in healthy subjects between the ages of 18 and 35 observed that the drug interfered with the production of male sex hormones and led to a disorder in men known as 'compensated hypogonadism', according to a report in the British newspaper The Guardian which is usually observed in older men and smokers.

In the study participants who swallowed 600 mg ibuprofen twice a day, the level of so-called luteinizing hormone increased. This is what the male body uses to regulate the production of testosterone.

According to the experts, the increase indicates that the drug causes problems in certain cells in the testes and prevents them from producing testosterone, which is naturally needed for the production of sperm.

Long-term use could lead to permanently low testosterone levels

Doctors in Copenhagen, who conducted the study, said that the impairment was voluntary and temporary among volunteers, but they feared that long-term use could lead to persistently low testosterone levels.

"Our immediate concern is the dreadfulness of men who use the drug over a long period of time," said David Møbjerg Kristensen of the University of Copenhagen to the Guardian..

"These supplements are good painkillers, but some people in society use them without considering them as proper medications."

Do not take medication for months

Study author Bernard Jégou from the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research said he sees no problem in people taking ibuprofen to alleviate pain, such as toothache, in the short term, but warned against taking it for months unless it is absolutely necessary.

"We are worried, especially about healthy people who do not need to take these medicines. The risk is greater than the benefit, "says Jégou.

William Colledge, a professor of reproductive physiology at the University of Cambridge, who was not involved in the study, said, "It's a fascinating study that suggests men should be careful about consuming ibuprofen in high doses over a long period of time. "

Although the results would have to be confirmed in further studies, he himself made a resolution: "Based on these data, I personally would be very reluctant to take ibuprofen longer than the 10 days normally stated on the package." (Ad)