A new study has shown that young men who engage in excessive intake of Ibuprofen, a common over-the-counter painkiller, stand a high risk of infertility.
The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States, found that regular Ibuprofen use may lead to compensated hypogonadism, a condition that can lead to infertility, erectile dysfunction, depression and loss of bone and muscle mass, among other symptoms.
The condition is most commonly seen in smokers and the elderly, but the latest research suggests it can affect young men, too.
Reduced fertility was noticed among some men under 35, who took the maximum daily dose of Ibuprofen, 1200mg or six tablets of 200mg, each for six weeks.
Within two weeks, the men developed hypogonadism, a sexual hormone dysfunction resulting in the men producing less testosterone (the male sex hormone).
The level of another hormone, luteinizing hormone, which stimulates testosterone production, increased as the men took the drug, but overall production of testosterone did not increase.
Ibuprofen belongs to a group of drugs called Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS). Other members of this class include aspirin, naproxen (Aleve), indomethacin (Indocin), nabumetone (Relafen).
These drugs are used for the management of mild to moderate pain, fever, and inflammation.
Researchers, however, do not believe any side effects are in store for men who take the drug for occasional headaches.
The problem lies in men who use it for long-term pain management, as full blown Hypogonadism impairs a man’s ability to produce sperm.
According to the World Health Organisation, one in every four couples, of reproductive age, in developing countries, experience childlessness despite five years of attempting pregnancy, (a condition known as Infertility).
In 2010, 45 million couples were infertile, according to one study, while a separate study suggests men are solely responsible for up to 30 per cent of all cases of childlessness. Overall, contributing to half of all cases.
Other analyses in the journal, Human Reproduction Update, found sperm counts of men in developed world plummeting. For forty years until 2011, sperm concentration has declined 52% with sperm count dropping 59%.
Mental & physiological effects of painkillers may include:
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Addiction
- Unconsciousness
- Respiratory depression
- Increased risk of heart attack
- Coma
- Death
