Review of dermatologic medications and impact on male fertility, sexual dysfunction and teratogenicity

Dermatologic medications have been linked to issues with safety during pregnancy and lactation. Despite this, limited research, often with conflicting findings, has been published on the association between dermatologic medications, male infertility, sexual dysfunction and teratogenicity following paternal exposure.

This review seeks to provide evidence-based guidance for physicians who are prescribing dermatologic medications to male patients who are trying to conceive.

Common medications used in the largest outpatient specialist dermatologic centre in Singapore were the focus of this review. A PubMed search using MeSH terms from inception to April 22, 2021, was conducted. A secondary search was conducted to include common non-dermatologic medications. Drug information from various online clinical resources and the Tenth Edition of Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation was also used as a reference.

In this review of 234 studies, 131 medications were covered. A total of 34 medications were associated with male infertility and sexual dysfunction, while 16 medications were implicated with concerns of teratogenicity.

Physicians are advised to discuss the potential impact on male fertility and teratogenicity with males who are trying to conceive while taking into consideration the clinical efficacy and tolerability of these medications and alternative treatments.