Effect of methotrexate on male fertility.
OBJECTIVE
Several men with psoriatic arthritis have asked whether the methotrexate they take for rheumatoid arthritis will affect their fertility or the outcome of any of their partners' future pregnancies. What is known regarding risks to fertility and to fetuses?


CONCLUSIONS
To date, there are no reports of adverse pregnancy outcomes among men exposed to methotrexate before conception. Opinions in the literature differ on the effects of methotrexate on male fertility. Several case reports and studies report no effect; others report reversible sterility. One limitation to several of these studies is the concurrent administration of other chemotherapeutic agents. Small studies reporting on methotrexate use with no other agents suggest no increased infertility. Motherisk is currently following men who are taking methotrexate alone for psoriatic arthritis to see whether it affects fertility.
French
Amy E
AE
Motherisk Team at Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ont.
Koren
Gideon
G
D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008727:Methotrexate