Open AccessThe impact of alcohol on the male reproductive system
Author(s) -
О И Аполихин,
С. С. Красняк
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
obŝestvennoe zdorovʹe
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2949-1274
pISSN - 2782-1676
DOI - 10.21045/2782-1676-2021-1-2-62-69
Subject(s) - alcohol , ethanol , spermatogenesis , fertility , alcohol consumption , physiology , male reproductive system , medicine , reproductive system , endocrinology , biology , sperm , environmental health , andrology , population , biochemistry
Although alcohol has been consumed by humans for centuries, its eect on reproductive function is still not fully understood. Numerous studies have examined the eects of alcohol on ejaculate parameters and male fertility. This article provides an overview of the main preclinical and clinical studies. Studies in experimental animals have shown that ethanol-rich diets cause spermatogenesis abnormalities, a variety of abnormalities involving dierent parts of the reproductive tract, and a decreased frequency of fertilization in murine oocytes. These eects quickly disappeared with the cessation of alcohol use. Most of the studies examining the eects of alcohol on men have shown a negative eect on ejaculate parameters. An association of hypogonadism and low or elevated gonadotropin levels has been reported, suggesting a combined central and peripheral damaging eect of ethanol. Thus, alcohol consumption has a pronounced negative eect on ejaculate parameters, which can be reversible upon cessation of alcohol consumption.