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The Effect of Alcohol Consumption on Male Infertility

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Male Infertility

Abstract

Alcohol consumption has health and social consequences. Alcoholism is linked to many diseases, and a possible association between alcohol consumption and both male and female infertility has been suggested. Infertility affects 10–15 % of couples attempting to conceive, and a male factor is identifiable in 40–60 % of couples seeking infertility treatments. Despite extensive research, it is still not well known which maternal and especially paternal lifestyle and sociodemographic factors are predictors of a couple’s fecundity. The aim of the following chapter is to discuss different aspects of the effect of alcohol consumption on male infertility. Experimental and clinical studies suggest that alcohol consumption may alter both testosterone secretion and spermatogenesis. These effects may be due to alteration of the endocrine system controlling hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis function and/or to a direct effect on the testis and/or male accessory glands.

Alcohol-attributable injuries are of a growing concern to the public health community. Sexual disorders have also been reported frequently in chronic alcoholics. Alcohol exposure has been associated with a reduction in seminiferous tubular diameter and germinal epithelium, sperm concentration, percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology, and sperm motility. In addition, a decrease in testicular and serum levels of testosterone has also been reported among ethanol consumers.

Although drinking of alcohol is considered a common social entertainment, male patients should be specifically warned of the negative effect of chronic alcohol consumption on the reproductive competence and advised to refrain from chronic alcohol consumption if they want to procreate and lead a normal sexual life.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Department, Fertility—Centro de Fertilização Assistida, Av. Brigadeiro Luiz Antônio, São Paulo, São Paulo, 4545, Brazil

    Edson Borges Jr. MD, PhD

  2. Departamento de Urologia, Universidade de Caxias do Sul e Conception - Centro de Reprodução Assistida, Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Fábio Firmbach Pasqualotto MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Edson Borges Jr. MD, PhD
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  2. Fábio Firmbach Pasqualotto MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Edson Borges Jr. MD, PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Medical Physiology, Stellenbosch University Faculty of Health Sciences, Tygerberg, South Africa

    Stefan S. du Plessis

  2. Department of Urology, Cleveland Clinic Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Ashok Agarwal

  3. Department of Urology, Cleveland Clinic Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Edmund S. Sabanegh, Jr.

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Borges, E., Pasqualotto, F.F. (2014). The Effect of Alcohol Consumption on Male Infertility. In: du Plessis, S., Agarwal, A., Sabanegh, Jr., E. (eds) Male Infertility. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1040-3_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1040-3_6

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  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1040-3

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