The effect of colchicine treatment on sperm production and function: a review

Colchicine is used for the treatment of various diseases including gouty arthritis, familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and Behcet's disease. As a modulator of the microtubules at the cytoskeleton level, it arrests cell division at metaphase and inhibits microtubular-dependent cell motility. Controversy exists as to the adverse effect of colchicine on sperm production and function in healthy subjects as well as in gout, FMF and Behcet's patients. Sperm analysis shows a spectrum of pathology, from oligo- and azoospermia to normospermia with disturbances in sperm motility. These inconsistent sperm pathologies can be explained in part by the variability of the pathophysiology of the underlying disease. Thus, it seems that colchicine by itself may not have a significant direct adverse effect on sperm production and function.