Study: Ibuprofen Linked to Male Infertility, Painkillers Hurt Boys' Development In Utero

Men who regularly take ibuprofen may be putting their fertility at risk, a study claims.

Experts found the painkillers reduce levels of key male sex hormones needed for healthy sperm.

They fear long-term use may be to blame for rising levels of infertility.

It follows previous research, which shows baby boys born to women who took over-the-counter painkillers for two weeks were at increased risk of fertility problems.

Tots were up to 16 times more likely to have undescended testicles if their mom took more than one dose of aspirin, paracetamol or ibuprofen when expecting.

In the current study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Danish and French scientists carried out a series of trials to see how ibuprofen affects adults.

In tests on 31 young men, two-week use of the drug affected levels of crucial male hormones, including testosterone.

And lab experiments also show testicular tissue exposed to the painkiller made less testosterone and damaged its ability to make sperm.

Researcher David Møbjerg Kristensen, from the University of Copenhagen, said: “Our lab tests show that when you hit the testes with a compound like ibuprofen, it results in a reduction in all the main male hormones.