TY - JOUR

T1 - Use of paracetamol (acetaminophen) as a nonprescription analgesic and semen quality in young men

T2 - A cross-sectional study

AU - Østergaard, Cecilie Schmidt

AU - Ernst, Andreas

AU - Gaml-Sørensen, Anne

AU - Brix, Nis

AU - Toft, Gunnar

AU - Haervig, Katia Keglberg

AU - Hougaard, Karin Sorig

AU - Bonde, Jens Peter

AU - Tottenborg, Sandra Sogaard

AU - Ramlau-Hansen, Cecilia Host

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - BackgroundParacetamol (acetaminophen) is a frequently used nonprescription analgesic with suggested endocrine-disrupting properties. Epidemiological evidence on the effect of paracetamol on male fecundity is sparse.ObjectivesTo investigate if the use of paracetamol as an oral nonprescription mild analgesic was associated with semen quality in young men.Materials and methodsThis cross-sectional study was based on data from the Fetal Programming of Semen Quality (FEPOS; 2017–2019) cohort of 1058 young men (18–21 years) included in the Danish National Birth Cohort. Participants completed a comprehensive online questionnaire on health behavior including analgesic use and provided a semen sample. Negative binomial regression models were used to estimate the percentage differences (adjusted mean ratios [aMR]) in semen quality characteristics according to paracetamol use (no; yes) and frequency of use (almost never; <1/month; ≥1/month; ≥1/week).ResultsIn total, 28% of the 913 participants with available data reported the use of paracetamol within the last 6 months. We found a slightly higher total sperm count (aMR 1.13 95% CI [0.99–1.30]) in users compared to nonusers but other semen characteristics were unaffected. The frequency of use was suggestive of lower total sperm count and morphologically normal sperm cells primarily among users ≥1/week, however, CIs were wide.DiscussionWe were unable to account for the underlying reason for paracetamol use, which may induce confounding by indication. Exposure misclassification due to recall is likely but probably nondifferential due to the participants’ young age and unawareness of semen quality. Due to the rapid plasma half-life of paracetamol and few frequent users, it was not possible to conclude on potential high-dose effects.ConclusionOur findings do not suggest any strong detrimental effect of paracetamol use on semen quality within this sample of young Danish men. However, the effects of high dose and frequent use cannot be excluded.

AB - BackgroundParacetamol (acetaminophen) is a frequently used nonprescription analgesic with suggested endocrine-disrupting properties. Epidemiological evidence on the effect of paracetamol on male fecundity is sparse.ObjectivesTo investigate if the use of paracetamol as an oral nonprescription mild analgesic was associated with semen quality in young men.Materials and methodsThis cross-sectional study was based on data from the Fetal Programming of Semen Quality (FEPOS; 2017–2019) cohort of 1058 young men (18–21 years) included in the Danish National Birth Cohort. Participants completed a comprehensive online questionnaire on health behavior including analgesic use and provided a semen sample. Negative binomial regression models were used to estimate the percentage differences (adjusted mean ratios [aMR]) in semen quality characteristics according to paracetamol use (no; yes) and frequency of use (almost never; <1/month; ≥1/month; ≥1/week).ResultsIn total, 28% of the 913 participants with available data reported the use of paracetamol within the last 6 months. We found a slightly higher total sperm count (aMR 1.13 95% CI [0.99–1.30]) in users compared to nonusers but other semen characteristics were unaffected. The frequency of use was suggestive of lower total sperm count and morphologically normal sperm cells primarily among users ≥1/week, however, CIs were wide.DiscussionWe were unable to account for the underlying reason for paracetamol use, which may induce confounding by indication. Exposure misclassification due to recall is likely but probably nondifferential due to the participants’ young age and unawareness of semen quality. Due to the rapid plasma half-life of paracetamol and few frequent users, it was not possible to conclude on potential high-dose effects.ConclusionOur findings do not suggest any strong detrimental effect of paracetamol use on semen quality within this sample of young Danish men. However, the effects of high dose and frequent use cannot be excluded.

KW - male fecundity

KW - nonprescription analgesic

KW - paracetamol

KW - semen analysis

KW - semen quality

U2 - 10.1111/andr.13129

DO - 10.1111/andr.13129

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34779581

VL - 10

SP - 495

EP - 504

JO - Journal of Andrology

JF - Journal of Andrology

SN - 2047-2919

IS - 3

ER -