Psychotropic drug induced male infertility: a case report

This is a case report of a 35-year old man whose fertility status was severely impaired by a past history of bilateral testicular torsion, use of numerous psychotropic drugs, and the presence of a left varicocele. A moderate improvement in the semen quality occurred following discontinuation of the medications, but a significant reponse was not evident until a varicocelectomy was performed. Thereafter, repeated semen analyses revealed normal findings except for a marked depression of sperm motility when the patient took Norpramin, a psychoactive drug. Seminal factors were consistently normal when this medication was withheld. Ultimately, when the patient agreed not to take the Norpramin for 9 months, his semen quality remained normal and his wife conceived and delivered a normal male child.