title: The insults of illicit drug use on male fertility.
abstract: One-third of infertile couples may have a male factor present. Illicit drug  use can be an important cause of male factor infertility and includes use of  anabolic-androgenic steroids, marijuana, opioid narcotics, cocaine, and  methamphetamines. The use of these illicit drugs is common in the United  States, with a yearly prevalence rate for any drug consistently higher in  males compared with females. We aim to provide a review of recent literature  on the prevalence and effects of illicit drug use on male fertility and to aid  health professionals when counseling infertile men whose social history  suggests illicit drug use. Anabolic-androgenic steroids, marijuana, cocaine,  methamphetamines, and opioid narcotics all negatively impact male fertility,  and adverse effects have been reported on the  hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis, sperm function, and testicular  structure. The use of illicit drugs is prevalent in our society and likely  adversely impacting the fertility of men who abuse drugs.
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado School of Medicine, Division of Urology, 12631 E 17th Ave, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
authors.forename: Carolyn M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Fronczak
authors.forename: Edward D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Al B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Barqawi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects; D000728:Androgens / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000150:complications; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D015995:Prevalence; D051381:Rats; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000728:Androgens; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D013739:Testosterone; D008694:Methamphetamine; D003042:Cocaine; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine