Paxil, other SSRIs may affect male fertility

(FOX News) UPDATED 2008-11-11

According to a new study, some antidepressants may increase men's risk of developing abnormal sperm. In the study, researchers gave healthy men the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) Paxil for five weeks. The scientists then compared semen samples taken before the study to samples taken after the study was complete. Results showed that the men's average sperm DNA fragmentation score rose from 13.8 percent before they began taking the antidepressant to 30.3 percent after the fourth week of the study. Researchers say that though their study didn't directly evaluate male fertility, the amount of damaged sperm linked to SSRI antidepressant use was "troubling." Read full story >

See all Depression News

Related: antidepressants