Medications linked to male infertility

Spironolactone is a component of several antihypertensive drugs; it may impair production of testosterone and sperm. Sulfasalazine is found in a few medicines used for irritable bowel disease, colitis, or Crohn's disease. It adversely affects normal sperm development. Drugs with mesalamine can be substituted, instead. Colchicine and allopurinol are used to control gout and can affect the ability of sperm to fertilize.

Antibiotics including tetracyclines, gentamicin, neomycin, erythromycin, and nitrofurantoin (in extremely high doses) can negatively affect sperm generation, movement, and density. Cimetidine, the active ingredient in Tagamet, can sometimes cause impotence and semen abnormalities. Drugs with ranitidine and famotidine, however, do not seem to have the same effect. Cyclosporine is used to improve graft survival in organ transplants but may have a detrimental effect on male fertility.