A small study published online in the journal Fertility & Sterility shows that some antidepressants may impair sperm, likely reducing the ability to conceive.
As a part of the study, researchers from New York studied 35 men taking Paxil and other paroxetine antidepressants. Paroxetine is an antidepressant categorized as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It is most often used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
The results showed that half the men taking SSRIs had higher levels of "sperm fragmentation." The scientists infer from these findings that these men have a lowered likelihood of conceiving. Further, it is already "fairly well known", the study's senior author noted, that these antidepressants have a negative impact on men's erectile and ejaculatory functions.
How could a pill possibly damage sperm? One speculation is that the antidepressant slows sperm. If sperm is in the reproductive tract too long, it is more likely to age and become genetically fragmented.
All fertility hope is not lost in these findings, however. The study did also show that, once the medication was discontinued, the men's sperm became healthy again.
As good as it is to know that sperm can return to normal once the antidepressant is out of a man's system, I wonder what happens if ceasing the medication is not an option. What does a couple do if the man relies on Paxil (or another SSRI) and they still want the best chance possible of conceiving?
Have any of you had to negotiate antidepressants and fertility? What were your experiences?
Keep reading:
- Men have a biological clock, too
- Foods to improve fertility
- Fertility treatment: How to know when it is time to get help
[photo credit: Getty Images]
