Several pharmaceutical drugs cause infertility

Added 18.04.2011

If you and your partner want to get pregnant, stay clear of these medications:

Viagra: ironically enough viagra causes infertility! Various studies have linked Viagra to decreased sperm count and motility, which ultimately affects sperm's ability to fertilise eggs.

Antidepressants: a study shows that as much as 50% of all men taking the serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant paroxetine are sub-fertile because of samaged sperm. Researchers believe the SSRI reduces the motility of sperm as they swim through the male reproductive system and this makes the sperm age so their DNA gets damaged.

Painkillers: men whose mother's took painkillers like ibuprofen, paracetamol and aspirin during pregnancy have a higher risk of being infertile due to birth defects such as undescended testicles. For instance, the risk of undescended testicles in a baby boy is doubled if a woman takes painkillers during her second trimester. This risk is considerably increased if different painkillers are used simultaneously. According to a Swedish study, one of the most common causes of infertility in women is the use of painkillers. Another study found an 80% increased risk of miscarriage in women who used painkillers during conception and pregnancy.

Also watch out for...

Trans fats: these nasty fats found in commercial baked goods, fried food and many processed foods, will not only increase your bad (LDL) cholesterol and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol, it will also increase your infertility risk by 70% - if you are a woman.

The above holds true just by eating 4 grams of trans fats a day, which by the way is equivalent to 1 doughnut or a serving of French fries! Watch out for "partially hydrogenated oils" on food labels as this is just another name for trans fats.

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