Use of paracetamol (acetaminophen) as a nonprescription analgesic and semen quality in young men: A cross-sectional study

Cecilie Schmidt Østergaard, Andreas Ernst, Anne Gaml-Sørensen, Nis Brix, Gunnar Toft, Katia Keglberg Haervig, Karin Sørig Hougaard, Jens Peter Bonde, Sandra Søgaard Tøttenborg, Cecilia Høst Ramlau-Hansen

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is a frequently used nonprescription analgesic with suggested endocrine-disrupting properties. Epidemiological evidence on the effect of paracetamol on male fecundity is sparse.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate if the use of paracetamol as an oral nonprescription mild analgesic was associated with semen quality in young men.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on data from the Fetal Programming of Semen Quality (FEPOS; 2017-2019) cohort of 1058 young men (18-21 years) included in the Danish National Birth Cohort. Participants completed a comprehensive online questionnaire on health behavior including analgesic use and provided a semen sample. Negative binomial regression models were used to estimate the percentage differences (adjusted mean ratios [aMR]) in semen quality characteristics according to paracetamol use (no; yes) and frequency of use (almost never; <1/month; ≥1/month; ≥1/week).

RESULTS: In total, 28% of the 913 participants with available data reported the use of paracetamol within the last 6 months. We found a slightly higher total sperm count (aMR 1.13 95% CI [0.99-1.30]) in users compared to nonusers but other semen characteristics were unaffected. The frequency of use was suggestive of lower total sperm count and morphologically normal sperm cells primarily among users ≥1/week, however, CIs were wide.

DISCUSSION: We were unable to account for the underlying reason for paracetamol use, which may induce confounding by indication. Exposure misclassification due to recall is likely but probably nondifferential due to the participants' young age and unawareness of semen quality. Due to the rapid plasma half-life of paracetamol and few frequent users, it was not possible to conclude on potential high-dose effects.

CONCLUSION: Our findings do not suggest any strong detrimental effect of paracetamol use on semen quality within this sample of young Danish men. However, the effects of high dose and frequent use cannot be excluded.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAndrology
Volume10
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)495-504
Number of pages10
ISSN2047-2919
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2022

Keywords

  • Health Sciences
  • male fecundity
  • nonprescription analgesic
  • paracetamol
  • semen analysis
  • semen quality

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