CoastWatcher
Moderator
Tramadol, a Schedule IV Controlled Substance in the United States, is an abused opiate - particularly in the Middle East. A small study was undertaken to investigate tramadol impact on sperm quality and on levels of testosterone, prolactin and gonadotropins, in tramadol abusers (n = 30) to age-matched control (n = 30).
- Abusers had significantly low percentages of sperm motility, normal forms and vitality compared with control (95% CI -40.7 to -19.3, -13.5 to -9.3 and -31.9 to -9.7 respectively).
- Hypoandrogenism (95% CI -4.5 to -2.8), hyperprolactinaemia (CI (95%) 4.9 to 9.4) and hypergonadotropinaemia (95% CI 2.9 to 7.2 for FSH and 2.0 to 7.8 for LH) were observed in tramadol abusers vs controls.
- Smokers (26 of 30), concurrently abusing other drugs (11 of 30) and asymptomatic leucocytospermic (15 of 30) patients subgroups significantly abused tramadol beyond 3 years (p = .02, <.001, = .03 respectively) and in excess >450 mg/day (p = .02, = .01, = .005 respectively). Progressive motility (a + b%) was significantly low in young men <25 years old (p = .03) subgroup.
- Tramadol abuse is associated with poor sperm quality, hyperprolactinaemia and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. We recommend semen analysis for tramadol long-intakes, question sperm donors and follow-up studies to prevent and reverse tramadol-induced testicular damage.
