Antibiotics are one of the greatest inventions in medicine which were discovered accidentally at the beginning of XX century. However, like other medications, antibiotic drugs can cause side effects, affecting, in particular, the reproductive system. Can they influence libido and potency? Is fertility-decreasing effect possible due to use of these remedies? Let’s try to figure it out.
The Essence of Antibiotics
Antibiotics are used to treat diseases of bacterial nature; they cannot treat infections caused by viruses, such as flu and common cold.
Here is an exemplary list of illnesses that might be treated with antibiotic medications:
- pneumonia
- bronchitis
- gastritis caused by Helicobacter pylori
- acute otitis media
- acute tonsillitis
- acute rhinosinusitis
- bacterial urinary tract infections
- sexually transmitted infections
- severe acne, etc.
Can Antibiotics Affect Male Potency?
When it comes to antibiotics and male potency, there are two sides of the coin. On the one hand, antibiotics help the body cure a dangerous disease, which improves the general condition and libido. On the other hand, antibiotics can cause side effects that might affect the digestive, nervous and reproductive systems.
In addition, a deterioration in libido and potency due to the use of antibiotics can occur for psychological reasons. For example, worsening erections can occur in hypochondrial people who come up with new diseases.
There is no single answer to how antibiotics can affect libido or cause erectile dysfunction. In general, they are safe, but it is always important to follow the doctor’s recommendations when you use these drugs.
Interestingly that antibiotics are usually cheaper in Canada that in the United States. Read our article: Why Are Drugs Cheaper In Canada Than In The US?
Antibiotics and Fertility in Men
There is an opinion among folks that the use of antibacterial remedies might negatively affect male fertility, as they believe that these drugs disrupt functioning of male sex cells. That’s partially true. If a male has to take a plenty of antibiotics, this may affect his swimmers. Antibiotics can slightly affect sperm function, but only some of them might be harmful for fertility. In particular, according to a study by Schlegel, Chang and Marshall (Center for Biomedical Research, NY, 1991), minocycline (brand name Minocin) is toxic to sperm at any concentration. By the way, more than 2 million prescriptions for minocycline were given by healthcare professionals in 2016. These authors also noted that penicillins and quinolones may exert a minimal effect on fertility in males.
In addition, Ketoconazole (Nizoral), an antifungal remedy, worsens production of semen and testosterone. However, keep in mind that this medication formally doesn’t belong to antibiotics.
It is worth noting that the reason a patient takes antibiotic remedies may have a greater adverse effect on potency than these medicines themselves. For instance, a disease-induced fever may lead to a decrease in sperm count for up to 8 weeks.
