The Potential Risk of Povidone-Iodine in Sperm Quality: A Case Report
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology : JDD
|March 5, 2025
Summary
Topical povidone-iodine (PVP-I) therapy may negatively impact male fertility. Long-term use in one patient led to severe declines in sperm quality, including concentration, motility, and morphology, highlighting potential risks for men undergoing fertility treatments.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Dermatology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Male infertility is a significant concern, impacting a substantial portion of couples seeking assisted reproductive technologies.
- Secondary infertility, developing after a period of fertility, can have various underlying causes.
- Topical treatments for dermatological conditions are common, but their systemic effects require careful consideration, especially in patients with fertility concerns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document a rare case of severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia potentially linked to prolonged topical povidone-iodine (PVP-I) application.
- To raise awareness among healthcare providers and patients about the potential adverse effects of PVP-I on sperm parameters.
- To emphasize the importance of considering all therapeutic agents, including topical ones, when evaluating male infertility.
Main Methods:
- Case report of a 45-year-old male patient with secondary infertility.
- Sperm analysis (SA) performed before and after a three-month period of topical PVP-I liniment use for fungal infection.
- Follow-up SA conducted after 77 days of PVP-I discontinuation to assess recovery of sperm parameters.
Main Results:
- Initial SA revealed mild asthenospermia; however, after three months of topical PVP-I use, repeat SA showed severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (low sperm count, poor motility, abnormal morphology).
- Following cessation of PVP-I therapy, sperm concentration and normal morphology gradually normalized.
- Sperm motility showed only partial recovery, suggesting a potentially lasting impact on this parameter.
Conclusions:
- Long-term topical povidone-iodine (PVP-I) therapy may be associated with a decline in sperm quality, affecting count, motility, and morphology.
- While the precise mechanism remains unclear, the findings suggest PVP-I could act as a spermatotoxin.
- Men undergoing fertility treatments should be informed about the potential risks of topical PVP-I use on reproductive health, prompting further investigation into this adverse effect.
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