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Viagra may affect Fertility
1st April 2004
Researchers from Belfast reveal today that men who take Viagra
when they are hoping to start a family could be affecting their
fertility.
A group at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Queen’s
University Belfast have shown that while Viagra enhances sperm motility
it also seems to speed up the ‘acrosome reaction’, which
normally occurs only when the sperm reaches the egg.
The acrosome reaction enables the sperm to fertilise the egg. It
releases digestive enzymes that break down the egg’s protective
outer layer, allowing the sperm to penetrate more easily.
Forty-five samples of semen were split, half treated with Viagra
and half were used as control, it was seen that up to 79% more sperm
were fully ‘reacted’ in the Viagra samples.
If the acrosome enzymes are released too early, as seen in this
study when Viagra is present, sperm are rendered infertile. This
is backed up by studies on mice showing that in the presence of
Viagra significantly fewer eggs are fertilised, and fewer of the
resulting embryos develop to blastocyst stage (~5 days).
Dr David Glenn, who presents the work today, commented ‘Nearly
half of licensed fertility units in the UK currently use Viagra
to assist patient semen production. Our study raises questions about
the drug’s use in assisted reproduction.’
Notes for Editors
1Viagra affects sperm function in vitro is
presented at The Annual British Fertility Society Meeting 2004 on
Thursday 1 April 2004, in Cheltenham, UK
2DRJ Glenn, N McClure and SEM Lewis from School of Medicine,
Obs and Gynae, Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland,
UK
For more information: please contact the British Fertility Society press office
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