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Recreational Drugs
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Marijuana
Marijuana often causes a decreased average sperm count, motility,
and normal morphology. It affects the hormonal axis (HPG), causing
decreased plasma testosterone. It may also have a direct negative
effect on the Leydig Cells.
Cocaine
Even infrequent cocaine use causes decreased sperm count, motility,
and normal morphology. These effects can be found in men who have
used cocaine in the two years preceding their initial semen
analysis. Cocaine also decreases the ability of sperm to penetrate
the cervical mucous, making it difficult for them to enter the
uterus.
Anabolic Steroids (male hormones)
The use of anabolic androgenic steroids has reached almost epidemic
proportions. Nearly seven percent of 12th-grade males use or have
used them to build muscle mass and improve athletic performance.
These male hormones suppress the testes' ability to make
testosterone. This decreases the intratesticular testosterone level.
This may cause severely diminished spermatogenesis or complete
absence of sperm (azoospermia). When taken, these steroids cause a
persistent depression of the hypothalamus and pituitary, which may
be irreversible even when the steroids are stopped.
Alcohol
Moderate alcohol use does not affect male fertility. Excessive
alcohol use affects the hormonal axis and is a direct gonadotoxin.
It may cause associated liver dysfunction and nutritional
deficiencies, which are also detrimental for sperm production.
Lubricants
Most vaginal lubricants, including K-Y Jelly, Surgilube, and Lubifax,
are toxic to sperm. Couples should avoid their use during the
fertile time of a woman's cycle. |
Recreational Drugs & most vaginal lubricants, including K-Y Jelly, Surgilube, and Lubifax, are toxic to sperm which can cause infertility problem. |
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