Be warned! Too much ibuprofen may increase infertility risks in men. As experts have found that the painkillers do reduce levels of key male sex hormones needed for healthy sperm. So, men who regularly take painkillers such as “ibuprofen” may most probably be putting their fertility at risk.
Experts fear that long-term use of ibuprofen may be to blame for rising the levels of infertility.
A previous research is also followed. That very previous research shows that baby boys born to women who took over-the-counter painkillers for 2 weeks were at raised risk of fertility problems.
Tots were up to sixteen times more likely to have undescended testicles in case their mother took more than one dose of aspirin, paracetamol or ibuprofen when pregnant.
In the recent study that is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Danish & French scientists carried out a series of trials to see the way ibuprofen affects adults.
In tests on thirty one young men, 2 week use of the drug did affect levels of crucial male hormones, in addition to testosterone.
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Lab experiments did also show testicular tissue exposed to the painkiller made less testosterone while damaging its ability to make sperm.
David Møbjerg Kristensen who is the researcher from the University of Copenhagen, says, “Our lab tests show that when you hit the testes with a compound like ibuprofen, it results in a reduction in all the main male hormones”.
The major concern (according to the researcher) is of course male fertility and the way it is affected by chronic use.
Now, there are plans to carry out a long-term study on the impact of ibuprofen on the quality of sperm.
Kristensen is of the view that one in 50 Danish adults take over-the-counter painkillers on regularly to combat headaches. And even more mem use them on regular basis for arthritis and back and muscle aches.
Kristensen also says that these drugs are so much common in modern society, that many of the people take them for granted. But, because you can buy them over-the-counter doesn’t mean these compounds are not proper medicines. Rather, they have side effects.
So do not abuse these medicines, and try to take the smallest dose for only the shortest period of time.
According to the previous studies, it takes couples longer to get pregnant if the male partner has been taking paracetamol.
Dr. Kevin McEleny, from the British Fertility Society, opines that some studies shown that exposure to drugs like ibuprofen can affect testicular health in the fetus. But this is the 1st time that painkillers have been shown to have an impact on testicular health in adults.
But he adds that no direct effect on fertility was shown, but the results of this initial study do suggest that it does warrant further investigation.
Further studies would be needed to determine the possible effect ibuprofen could have on human reproductive & physical disorders, especially in men.
However, people taking over-the-counter ibuprofen shouldn’t be concerned by this research paper. Ibuprofen is an effective & appropriately safe way to get short-term pain relief if being used in accordance with the clear on-pack instructions.
