belgareth
10-27-2005, 11:32 AM
Heavy drinking may harm male hormones, sperm By Amy Norton
NEW YORK (Reuters
Health) - Problem drinking may dampen both a man's sex life and his chances of having children, according to a new
study
Researchers in India found that men being treated for
alcoholism had lower testosterone levels and more sperm abnormalities than non-drinkers did. They also had a far
higher rate of erectile dysfunction (ED) - 71 percent, versus 7 percent of
abstainers.
Some past studies have suggested that heavy drinking can
take a toll on men's reproductive health. One recent study found that couples had a higher miscarriage risk if the
man had consumed 10 or more drinks a week around the time of conception.
Also, it's known that alcoholic men can develop signs of low testosterone, including shrunken testicles and
enlarged breasts.
The new findings add to evidence that heavy
drinking, at least among alcoholics, may harm both men's sex lives and their fertility, according to the study
authors, led by Dr. K. R. Muthusami of Kovai Medical Center and Hospital in Coimbatore,
India.
"Men are advised to refrain from chronic alcohol consumption
if they want to procreate and lead a normal sex life," the researchers conclude in the medical journal Fertility &
Sterility.
On the other hand, it's unlikely that light drinking
would have any significant effect on men's fertility, Muthusami told Reuters
Health.
The study included 66 non-smoking men who had sought
treatment for alcoholism, along with 30 non-smokers who had never consumed alcohol. On average, alcoholic men had a
significantly lower sperm count, but more abnormal sperm, as well as lower testosterone levels and changes in other
reproductive hormones.
According to the researchers, these findings
likely reflect direct damage to the testicles caused by excessive alcohol. Alcohol, Muthusami said, enters the
testicles directly and can both cut testosterone production and harm the quality of
semen.
But the potential harm is not limited to men. Other studies,
the researcher noted, have found heavy drinking to impair women's reproductive health as
well.
SOURCE:
Fertility & Sterility, October 2005.
NEW YORK (Reuters
Health) - Problem drinking may dampen both a man's sex life and his chances of having children, according to a new
study
Researchers in India found that men being treated for
alcoholism had lower testosterone levels and more sperm abnormalities than non-drinkers did. They also had a far
higher rate of erectile dysfunction (ED) - 71 percent, versus 7 percent of
abstainers.
Some past studies have suggested that heavy drinking can
take a toll on men's reproductive health. One recent study found that couples had a higher miscarriage risk if the
man had consumed 10 or more drinks a week around the time of conception.
Also, it's known that alcoholic men can develop signs of low testosterone, including shrunken testicles and
enlarged breasts.
The new findings add to evidence that heavy
drinking, at least among alcoholics, may harm both men's sex lives and their fertility, according to the study
authors, led by Dr. K. R. Muthusami of Kovai Medical Center and Hospital in Coimbatore,
India.
"Men are advised to refrain from chronic alcohol consumption
if they want to procreate and lead a normal sex life," the researchers conclude in the medical journal Fertility &
Sterility.
On the other hand, it's unlikely that light drinking
would have any significant effect on men's fertility, Muthusami told Reuters
Health.
The study included 66 non-smoking men who had sought
treatment for alcoholism, along with 30 non-smokers who had never consumed alcohol. On average, alcoholic men had a
significantly lower sperm count, but more abnormal sperm, as well as lower testosterone levels and changes in other
reproductive hormones.
According to the researchers, these findings
likely reflect direct damage to the testicles caused by excessive alcohol. Alcohol, Muthusami said, enters the
testicles directly and can both cut testosterone production and harm the quality of
semen.
But the potential harm is not limited to men. Other studies,
the researcher noted, have found heavy drinking to impair women's reproductive health as
well.
SOURCE:
Fertility & Sterility, October 2005.