New study suggests ibuprofen is linked to male infertility

This is slightly worrying.

A new study has found a link between male infertility and ibuprofen. The study, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, in America, found that men who consumed ibuprofen developed signs of hypogonadism, a disorder associated with adverse reproductive and physical health disorders. Speaking about the reason for the study, it has said:

"Concern has been raised over declining male reproductive health in humans. Our study addresses this issue by extending data showing antiandrogen effects of analgesics and suggests that such compounds may be involved in adult male reproductive problems."

The researchers conducted clinical trials with varying amounts of ibuprofen being administered to young men. In total 31 men between the ages of 18 and 35 were involved in the trial. 17 men were given placebo tablets, while 14 were told to take 600-milligram doses of ibuprofen every day for a six week period. After two weeks, researchers found that the men taking the ibuprofen had more luteinizing hormone in their blood. The luteinizing hormone helps to produce testosterone. Then, after 44 days, they noticed that there was a lower rate of testosterone even though the luteinizing hormone was still being produced, which could suggest the development of hypogonadism. Commenting on the results, the study says:

"The study shows that ibuprofen use results in selective transcriptional repression of endocrine cells in the human testis. This repression results in the elevation of the stimulatory pituitary hormones, resulting in a state of compensated hypogonadism, a disorder associated with adverse reproductive and physical health disorders."