Effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use upon male gonadal function: A national, population-based...

Recent data have suggested that short-term NSAID use induces a state of compensated hypogonadism. Our aim was to investigate the association between chronic, regular NSAID use and compensated hypogonadism in a large, nationally representative cohort, the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. Men 20-80 years who answered the analgesic use questionnaire and underwent hormonal testing were included. Multivariable regression was utilised to determine the relationship between NSAID use and serum testosterone (T), anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and T:AMH ratio. Among 3,749 men, 505 (13.5%) reported regular NSAID use and 3,244 (86.5%) did not. Regular users had lower T (440.7 ± 27.0 vs. 557.0 ± 24.9 ng/dl, p = .005) and albumin (43.8 ± 0.2 vs. 45.1 ± 0.1, p < .001) compared to nonregular users. On multivariable analysis, only active smoking was significantly associated with T, AMH and T:AMH ratio (p < .001, p = .036 and p = .005 respectively). Regular NSAID use was not associated with T, AMH or T:AMH ratio (p = .523, p = .974, and p = .872 respectively). In this nationally representative sample of US men, regular and chronic NSAID use was not associated with alterations in T or compensated hypogonadism. These data should reassure patients and clinicians regarding the safety of NSAID use with respect to the risk of alteration in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.