Posted on 01/09/2018 11:24:57 AM PST by Red Badger
A team of researchers from Denmark and France has found that taking regular doses of the pain reliever ibuprofen over a long period of time can lead to a disorder in men called compensated hypogonadism. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their study, which involved giving the drug to volunteers and monitoring their hormones and sperm production.
To learn more about the possible impacts of the popular anti-inflammation drug Ibuprofen on male fertility when taken for long periods of time, the researchers asked 31 men between the ages of 18 and 35 to take 600 milligrams (three tablets) a day of the drug for six weeks. Other volunteers were given a placebo. Over the course of the study, the volunteers were tested to see what impact the drug had on their bodies.
The researchers report that just two weeks into the study, they found that all of the volunteers had an increase in luteinizing hormones, which the male body uses to regulate the production of testosterone. The increase indicated that the drug was causing problems in certain cells in the testicles, preventing them from producing testosterone, which is, of course, needed to produce sperm cells. They further report that the change caused the pituitary gland to respond by producing more of another hormone, which forced the body to produce more testosterone. The net result was that overall testosterone levels remained constant, but the body was overstressing to compensate for the detrimental impact of the Ibuprofen—a state called compensated hypogonadism.
The researchers note that while compensated hypogonadism can cause a temporary reduction in the production of sperm cells, reducing fertility, it is generally not cause for alarm. What is more of a concern, they note, is using the drug for longer periods of time. It has not been proven yet, but the researchers suspect such use, as is seen with some professional athletes or others with chronic pain issues, might lead to a condition called overt primary hypogonadism, in which the symptoms become worse—sufferers report a reduction in libido, muscle mass and changes in mood. Additional studies are required, they note, to find out if this is, indeed, the case.
Explore further: Restoring testosterone rather than replacing it helps safeguard a man's fertility
More information: David Møbjerg Kristensen et al. Ibuprofen alters human testicular physiology to produce a state of compensated hypogonadism, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2018). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1715035115
Abstract 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. Through a clinical trial with young men exposed to ibuprofen, we show that the analgesic resulted in the clinical condition named "compensated hypogonadism," a condition prevalent among elderly men and associated with reproductive and physical disorders. In the men, luteinizing hormone (LH) and ibuprofen plasma levels were positively correlated, and the testosterone/LH ratio decreased. Using adult testis explants exposed or not exposed to ibuprofen, we demonstrate that the endocrine capabilities from testicular Leydig and Sertoli cells, including testosterone production, were suppressed through transcriptional repression. This effect was also observed in a human steroidogenic cell line. Our data demonstrate that ibuprofen alters the endocrine system via selective transcriptional repression in the human testes, thereby inducing compensated hypogonadism.
Journal reference: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences search and more info
Kenny Easley of the Seahawks had to have a kidney transplant which he attributed to the bucket of Advil in the locker room. He said you just walk by and grab a handful all the time.
That sounds like my ex mother-in-law. She thought everyone should be on Zoloft. She got this great idea reading People magazine. I think she had a candy bowl on the counter full of Zoloft as was pushing them on everyone. Stupid witch!
Ibuprofen can cause problems if overused, but then so can aspirin and acetaminophen. Ibuprofen isn’t as bad as acetaminophen in my opinion and it seems to be more effective.
You could have had ten.
Zoloft sure did a number on my ex-wife. At least it took the edge off her PMS.
Still working on it ;)
Practice, practice, practice!
Yeah, if this is the main side effect it’s still a better trade-off then acetaminophen has.
Yessir. Acetaminophen is absolutely brutal on the liver.
i stick to aspirin, which seems to have an infinite number of beneficial side effects, on top of relieving pain
Do you know what is considered to be “overused”? I take two, 200 mgs, twice a day, most days (2 in a.m. and 2 at dinner for 800mg per day or less). As a female nearing retirement, I am not worried about my sperm count. I have back pain issues, and seem to be so much better with the regular ibuprofen.
Advil = a new pair of moobs.
My surgeon instructed me to NEVER take ibuprofen again and suspected that was the sole cause of my blockages. Here's a warning regarding the drug.
FDA strengthens warning that NSAIDs increase heart attack and stroke risk:
“So a Male taking this long term could suffer muscle mass loss and a drop in Libido?
In other words growing older?”
I know someone who takes two every night before bed and pitches a tent every morning.
P.S. In addition I only took one tablet per night before bedtime that was 200 mg.
Shoot.
LOL
Acetaminophen when used over long periods of time or in conjunction with alcohol will cause liver damage.
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