Analgesics could impact on fertility

MRC CRH’s Sarah Stock, Rod Mitchell and Richard Sharpe have all commented recently on the potential impact that analgesic drugs may have on the production of sperm and egg cells.

This article was first published on 9 January, 2018

Dr Rod Mitchell’s current study, which was presented at the Fertility 2018 conference in Liverpool, tested the effect of paracetamol and ibuprofen on human foetal testes and ovaries over a week. The researchers counted germ cells that turn into sperm and eggs.

In the ovary, the number of egg cells fell by up to 40 per cent, while in testes the number of germ cells was reduced by more than a fifth.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen are believed to interfere with a hormone called prostaglandin E2, which appears to play a vital part in the development of the foetal reproductive system.

Please see below two pieces of Daily Mail coverage, referring to the research taking place at MRC CRH and containing expert commentary from Sarah, Rod and Richard:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5237399/Painkillers-pregnancy-damage-babys-fertility.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/aap/article-5240669/Paracetamol-impact-fertility-report.html