Common antidepressants may impair male fertility, a study suggests

According to researchers, some common antidepressants can decrease the fertility of some men, as they cause damage in the DNA of their sperm.

In this small study, the researchers gave paraoxetine( Paxil or Seroxat) to 35 healthy men and they found that the ratio of fragmented DNA sperm cells rose from 13.8 percent to 30.3 percent after four weeks of treatment on average basis.

Almost the same levels of DNA damage are associated to problems with embryo capability in those couples who try to have children.

The research has been reported in the New Scientist magazine and it is expected to be presented in November at a meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Some experts conclude that only a substantial proportion of men on paroxtine may have to face fertility related damage, as it adversely affects the DNA integrity of sperm.

The study showed the concerns that were voiced by the same doctors during 2006, when they found low counts of healthy sperm in two men who were treated with two different selective-reuptake inhibitors.

A spokeswoman from a leading manufacturer of these antidepressants said: “Before stopping use of their medicine, patient must consult their situation with their doctors.”

Allan Pacey , who is a senior lecturer in Andrology at the University of Sheffield, says in this connection, “ the increase in sperm DNA damage is quite alarming and we need further studies to understand the thing better.”