A study of the antidepressant Paxil by researchers at Cornell Medical Center show that the drug increases the number of sperm with damaged DNA. Sperm with DNA damage are found in any sperm sample. However, in men who took Paxil for 4 weeks, it was found that almost one-third of their sperm had damage to the DNA. However, the question is whether this has any affect on overall fertility, and whether the remaining healthy sperm would be enough to produce a viable embryo. Since this is a small study, larger studies are needed to answer these questions. Researchers say that individuals who are taking this drug should consult with their doctors if they are concerned about infertility. Full story.
Tags: antidepressant, conceive, fertility, men, sperm
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Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.