Some drugs can affect the reproductive health of women and men, thus creating difficulties when planning a pregnancy.
Can medications lead to problems with conception?
Yes, they can. For example, some drugs affect the production of sex hormones in women and worsen the quality of sperm (and can even lead to sexual dysfunction) in men. Most of them are eliminated from the body after a few days, with a few persisting for up to two to three months or even longer. Therefore, if you or your partner take any medications, talk to your doctor. Your attempts at conception may have to wait.
If it’s an over-the-counter medication, does it mean it’s safe?
Many over-the-counter drugs do not affect fertility. But your best bet is to inform your doctor about it. After all, even the popular painkiller ibuprofen, if taken frequently and in high enough dosages, can block ovulation in women [1]. Anabolic steroids, which some bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts take, can reduce sperm quality [2].
What about prescription drugs?
Many prescription drugs do affect fertility in some way or another, but the effects are generally reversible. For example, in men, alpha-blockers (prescribed for prostate problems) suppress ejaculation, but the patient will recover within a few months. Testosterone, when taken, reduces the body’s production of its own testosterone, which may lead to problems with the quality of the sperm. Sometimes, you have to wait six to twelve months for things to get back to normal. Yet another example is chemotherapy; these cancer-treating drugs can lead to infertility, which is why many male patients choose to freeze their sperm before starting cancer treatment [3].
On the other hand, female fertility may be affected by the drugs used to treat conditions such as epilepsy, hypertension, stomach ulcers, asthma, diabetes mellitus, and thyroid diseases. But in almost every case, a woman’s life depends on them, and she can not decide to give them up just like that. Talk to your doctor about your particular condition so they can help you weigh the pros and cons while explaining the alternatives available to safely take care of your health while planning to start or expand your family.
