Cited by 217Sperm and Testicular FunctionHormonal and reproductive studiesPrenatal Substance Exposure Effects

The insults of illicit drug use on male fertility

Open access
Fronczak, Carolyn M., Kim, Edward D., Barqawi, Al B.·2012·Journal of Andrology

Abstract

Abstract:One‐third of infertile couples may have a male factor present. Illicit drug use can be an important cause of male factor infertility and includes use of anabolic‐androgenic steroids, marijuana, opioid narcotics, cocaine, and methamphetamines. The use of these illicit drugs is common in the United States, with a yearly prevalence rate for any drug consistently higher in males compared with females. We aim to provide a review of recent literature on the prevalence and effects of illicit drug use on male fertility and to aid health professionals when counseling infertile men whose social history suggests illicit drug use. Anabolic‐androgenic steroids, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines, and opioid narcotics all negatively impact male fertility, and adverse effects have been reported on the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐testicular axis, sperm function, and testicular structure. The use of illicit drugs is prevalent in our society and likely adversely impacting the fertility of men who abuse drugs.

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Crossref · 10.2164/jandrol.110.011874

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  • Non-prescription and recreational drug use before conception is associated with reduced fertility in men and women.

    “The use of non-prescription and recreational drugs before conception has been associated with reduced fertility in both men and women (Frey 2008, Fronczak 2012, Mueller 1990).”

    From Preconception lifestyle advice for people with infertility (2021) · cites this paper as Fronczak 2012

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Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. Lloyd FH, Powell P, Murdoch AP. Anabolic steroid abuse by body builders and male subfertility. BMJ . 1996;313:100-101.
  2. Pope HG Jr, Brower KJ. Anabolic-androgenic steroid related disorders. In: Sadock B, Sadock V, eds. Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2009:1419-1431.
  3. Pope HG Jr, Katz DL. Psychiatric and medical effects of anabolicandrogenic steroid use: a controlled study of 160 athletes. Arch Gen Psychiatry . 1994;51:375-382.
  4. AMP production in rat testes. Br J Pharmacol . 1996;118:984988.
  5. 19394640, 2012, 4, Downloaded from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2164/jandrol.110.011874, Wiley Online Library on [22/09/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License

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Authors
Fronczak, C. M., Kim, E. D., & Barqawi, A. B.
Affiliations
  • University of Colorado Anschutz (US)
  • University of Tennessee at Knoxville (US)
Corresponding author
Barqawi, Al B.
Venue
Journal of Andrology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2012-07-08
Volume
33
Issue
4
Pages
515-528
ISSN
  • 0196-3635 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-4640
OpenAlex
W2095564951
Cited by
217
References
88
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 3
FWCI
2.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Andrology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Sperm and Testicular Function
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects
Keywords
illicit drug use, male infertility, male factor infertility, anabolic steroids, cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, sperm function, hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis, testicular structure, drug use prevalence, infertility counseling
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Analgesics, Opioid, Androgens, Animals, Marijuana Abuse, Cocaine, Fertility, Humans, Infertility, Male, Male, Methamphetamine, Middle Aged, Spermatogenesis, Illicit Drugs, Testosterone, United States, Prevalence, N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, Substance-Related Disorders, Anabolic Agents, Rats

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