Frontiers in Pharmacology (Sep 2022)

The effect of SSRIs on Semen quality: A systematic review and meta-analysis

  • Jiarong Xu,
  • Jiarong Xu,
  • Kancheng He,
  • Kancheng He,
  • Yihong Zhou,
  • Liangyu Zhao,
  • Yuteng Lin,
  • Zihao Huang,
  • Nengqing Xie,
  • Jihui Yue,
  • Yuxin Tang,
  • Yuxin Tang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.911489
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are widely used for a variety of diseases, and their impact on semen quality is unclear. We performed a systematic search in PubMed and Embase, and after a strict screening, we included 4 studies with a total of 222 male participants. In result, SSRIs reduced normal sperm morphology (95% CI [−16.29, −3.77], p = 0.002), sperm concentration (95%CI [−43.88, −4.18], p = 0.02), sperm motility (95%CI [−23.46, −0.47], p = 0.04) and sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) (95% CI [6.66,21.93], p = 0.0002), without a statistically significant effect on semen volume (95%CI [−0.75,0.65], p = 0.89). Moreover, the impact on both sperm morphology and sperm concentration were observed within the 3-month period of SSRIs use. In general, our meta-analysis showed that SSRIs have a negative effect on semen quality. More larger, randomized, well-controlled clinical studies should be conducted to support our conclusion.

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