The importance of good health for conception and pregnancy is known to you, but many times, the male partner’s physical health is overlooked. You may know that there are a lot of factors that can affect a man’s sperm and fertility such as obesity or being underweight, habits such as smoking and drinking, use of drugs and so on, but you might not be aware that medication can also affect a man’s fertility and sperm count.
Most medication lowers the sperm count but there are some medications that can also affect its functioning. A low sperm count means that there would be less amount of sperm reaching your egg, and if the motility of sperm decreases, it will be difficult for the sperm to reach to the egg.
The ill-effects of medication on sperm would be seen after two to three months, as it takes about this much time for the sperm to form and mature completely. Some medications can affect the sperm in such a manner that it can take a very long time for the sperm count to increase. In some cases, it may happen that sperm production doesn’t resume at all.
If medication is administered properly and in the correct dosage, it wouldn’t affect the man’s sperm count, although it is best to be safe. If you are trying to conceive, you should be careful about the following medication –
– NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
Painkillers and other such drugs should not be taken frequently. If you use these medications often, you should talk to your doctor about your fertility.
– Herbal or natural remedies
It is not necessary that anything natural or herbal is safe as well. These medications are not scientifically tested and do not follow the regulations of normal medication, thus it is best to stay away from these kinds of medication when you are trying to conceive. You should specifically avoid any boosters or male enhancement medication as these can decrease sperm production instead of boosting it.
Medications like testosterone supplements cause the sperm count to take zero. These supplements decrease the ability of the man’s body to produce its own testosterone and thus the production of sperm stops. It can take months or years for sperm production to resume in such cases. Thus, avoid testosterone supplements and anabolic steroids if you’re trying to conceive.
You should also avoid chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics, antidepressants and medications for blood pressure as these can also contribute to a low sperm count as well as quality. It is not necessary that using these medications will hinder your chances of conceiving, but you should have an idea of how these can adversely affect your fertility. Talk to your doctor about these and they can suggest you alternatives that are as good as these medications.
