According to a small study, a popular pain reliever called ibuprofen can not only relieve pain, but it may also leave you infertile if you’re a man.
The findings appeared this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The study involved 31 male adults within the 18-35 age bracket. Volunteers were asked to fill out questionnaires about lifestyle choices and agreed to offer blood samples. There were two groups: the placebo group which was given a placebo instead of a pain reliever, and the ibuprofen group.
Researchers gave participants 600 mg of ibuprofen twice a day which is the amount contained in three pills.
The research team which included scientists from China, France, and Denmark found that the risk of hypogonadism in men who took the pain killer skyrocketed after just two weeks.
Ibuprofen Tied to Lower Testosterone Production
Hypogonadism usually affects only the elderly and can lead to infertility issues and physical disorders. The condition means that the testes fail to produce enough testosterone and sperm. Patients affected by the condition also have a high risk of heart disease, stroke, and depression.
- The good news is that the negative effects of testosterone deficiency can be reversed.
- Researchers, though, couldn’t tell if the side effects of long term use of ibuprofen can be undone.
The latest study is not the first of its kind. Past studies had also found a link between the pain killer and various negative health outcomes. Last year, for instance, a study found that the painkiller which is retailed under the name of Advil or Motrin boosts the risk of heart attack if taken daily. The drug doesn’t’ need a prescription, which makes it all the riskier.
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