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The Forced Swim Test as a Model of Depressive-like Behavior
Published on: March 2, 2015
Antidepressant-associated changes in semen parameters
Cigdem Tanrikut1, Peter N Schlegel
1James Buchanan Brady Foundation, Department of Urology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA. cot2002@med.cornell.edu
Urology
|February 3, 2007
Summary
Antidepressant medications, specifically serotonin reuptake inhibitors, may negatively impact male fertility by reducing sperm quality. Stopping these drugs led to significant improvements in sperm concentration and motility in two patients.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Male infertility evaluation is a common clinical concern.
- Antidepressant medications are widely prescribed, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
- The potential impact of SSRIs on male reproductive health requires further investigation.
Observation:
- Two male patients presented with infertility concerns, including oligospermia, reduced sperm motility, and abnormal morphology.
- These semen abnormalities were observed while the patients were undergoing treatment with SSRIs.
- Physical and endocrinological examinations revealed no other contributing factors to infertility.
Findings:
- Semen analyses demonstrated significant impairments in sperm concentration and motility in both patients during SSRI treatment.
- Following a 1-2 month cessation of SSRI medication, repeat semen analyses showed marked improvements in sperm concentration and motility.
- These findings suggest a reversible association between SSRI use and altered sperm parameters.
Implications:
- Antidepressant-induced changes in sperm parameters may be a contributing factor in male infertility.
- Further research is warranted to understand the mechanisms and prevalence of SSRI effects on male fertility.
- Clinicians should consider SSRI use when evaluating male infertility and discuss potential reproductive impacts with patients.
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