Antimicrobials and Male Reproduction

Abstract

Antibiotics have long been suspected of contributing to male infertility; however, there are remarkably limited data to support this premise. A major challenge for evaluating antibiotic effects is that the diseases they treat often have negative impacts on male reproduction, so treatment with the antimicrobial can improve reproductive endpoints. This is particularly true for diseases of the male reproductive tract. As a class, anti-parasitic drugs are toxic to eukaryotic cells and have significant potential for reproductive toxicity. A variety of these medications are also used in companion and food animal species; in this chapter we review the literature on anti-parasitic drugs on male reproduction in these species. In humans, only niridazole has been shown to cause reversible spermatogenic arrest in 20 men with schistosomiasis. Of the antifungal medications, ketoconazole has been shown in some studies to transiently decrease testosterone levels in men, but work is lacking for semen quality or fertility. We review studies of antibacterial medications in the chapter, with some minimal human data available for decreased semen quality in men taking nitrofurantoin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, or sulfamethoxazole. These and some other antibacterials have been studied in other species with results suggestive of negative impacts on male fertility endpoints. In light of the common assumption of reproductive toxicity for antimicrobial medications, and the decided lack of supporting evidence, there is a substantial need for well-designed clinical trials in this area.

The role of red ginseng in men’s reproductive health: a literature review

“…RG monotherapy somewhat reversed reproductive damage in animal models exposed to tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, zearalenone, and RG monotherapy in combination with numerous drugs to mitigate pharmacogenically induced reproductive toxicity [ 35 , 36 , 39 ]. For example, ciprofloxacin can lead to a decrease in testicular weight, sperm quality, and testosterone level in patients with testicular inflammation—an important factor in sperm arrest and testicular atrophy [ 68 ]. However, ciprofloxacin combined with RG has been reported to improve sperm quality and reduce apoptosis indicators in Wistar rats [ 28 ].…”

Effect of moxa smoke on sperm parameters and oxidative stress in rats with asthenozoospermia

“…The ORN‐induced rat model has been a frequently used animal model to study asthenozoospermia over the last several decades (Drobnis & Nangia, 2017). In our lab, rats underwent daily intragastric administration of ORN for 10–14 days to establish the disease model (Bone et al, 2000) as per the previously described method with minor modifications (Du et al, 2019).…”

The effect of antibiotics on spermatogenesis (review)

“…По мнению E. Z. Drobnis и A. K. Nangia, несмотря на давность проблемы, за весь период исследований накоплено слишком мало данных, подтверждающих влияние антибиотиков на сперматогенез. Основная проблема при оценке влияния антибиотиков на сперматогенез заключается в том, что заболевания, которые они лечат, особенно заболевания органов мужского полового тракта, часто сами ухудшают репродуктивную функцию мужчин, поэтому лечение антибиотиками в конечном итоге и улучшает эту функцию [24]. E. Z. Drobnis и A. K. Nangia утверждают, что на репродуктивную функцию у мужчин токсическое влияние оказывают антипаразитарные препараты.…”

“…Авторы сообщают также об изменении качества спермы у мужчин, принимающих нитрофурантоин, ципрофлоксацин, офлоксацин и сульфаметоксазол. В заключении они подчеркивают отсутствие убедительных доказательств токсического влияния препаратов на сперматогенез и констатируют необходимость дальнейших рандомизированных исследований [24].…”