Effects of Amphetamine on Sperm Quality and Fertility
Based on available evidence, amphetamine use likely has negative effects on sperm quality and may contribute to male fertility problems, though specific human data on amphetamines is limited compared to other recreational drugs. 1
Impact of Amphetamines on Male Fertility
While the American Urological Association (AUA) and American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) do not specifically list amphetamines in their guidelines on medications affecting male fertility, they do acknowledge that recreational drugs can negatively impact fertility 2
Animal studies have demonstrated that methamphetamine (a type of amphetamine) can significantly decrease normal sperm motility and morphology, particularly at higher and escalating doses 3
Methamphetamine exposure in rats has been shown to reduce sperm concentration and induce abnormal sperm quality, which may be related to disruption of hormone receptors essential for spermatogenesis 3
Recreational drugs, including stimulants like amphetamines, are recognized as potential contributors to the decline in male fertility levels, though human clinical evidence remains limited 1
Mechanisms of Potential Harm
- Amphetamines may affect male fertility through multiple pathways:
- Disruption of hormone receptors in the testes, including progesterone and estrogen receptors that are essential for normal spermatogenesis 3
- Potential negative effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis, which regulates testosterone production and sperm development 4
- Possible direct toxic effects on testicular structure and sperm function 4
Therapeutic Amphetamines vs. Recreational Use
Interestingly, a retrospective analysis of methylphenidate (a prescription amphetamine-like stimulant) found no negative impact on sperm parameters in men undergoing fertility evaluation 5
The study of 9,769 semen samples actually found increased sperm concentration, total sperm count, and sperm motility among current and past methylphenidate users compared to non-users 5
This suggests that therapeutic doses of certain prescription stimulants may have different effects than recreational amphetamine use, though more research is needed 5
Clinical Considerations and Recommendations
Men experiencing fertility issues who use amphetamines should be counseled about the potential negative impact on sperm quality and fertility 4
The WHO guidelines on male infertility strongly recommend that men trying for pregnancy should abstain from recreational drugs, as these substances may adversely affect semen quality and fertility 6
When evaluating male fertility concerns, clinicians should obtain a comprehensive medication and substance use history, including both prescription and recreational drugs 2
Standard semen analysis remains the cornerstone of evaluation for men concerned about fertility impacts of amphetamine use 2
Limitations and Research Gaps
Human studies specifically examining amphetamine effects on male fertility are limited, with most evidence extrapolated from animal studies or broader research on recreational drugs 1
The WHO guidelines note that large-scale prospective multi-center trials are needed to examine the effects of recreational drug use on spermatogenesis, semen quality, and fertility outcomes 6
Current evidence cannot definitively establish the extent to which amphetamines impact fertility rates or time to pregnancy in humans 1
Most available research focuses on semen parameters rather than actual fertility outcomes such as pregnancy rates or live births 6