Chronic Alcoholism a Cause of Male Infertility: A Review
Anuja Wadadekar *, Chinmay Phadke
P.D.E.A.‟S College of Ayurveda & Research Centre, Nigdi. Pune Maharashtra India– 44.
Corresponding Author: E-mail: anujak1486@gmail.com
Submission: 22.06.2020 Acceptance: 11.08.2020 Publication: 31.08.2020
https://www.doi.org/10.63778/PDEASIJRAAS-ARJCPL/2020_0017
Abstract: Publication: Many couples nowadays are suffering from infertility which leads to many physical, psychological and social issues. In 2008, around 70 million couples suffered from infertility. Out of which in 50% cases male factor was responsible either as a lone factor or in combination with that of problems in female partners. The risk of health problems in many organ systems increased with the Consumption of more than 2 standard drinks per day. In the alcoholic‟s, abnormalities were detected in the reproductive hormones, sperm count and number of morphologically normal sperms. Significant association was found between alcohol abuse & impotence. Hyper-oestrogenisation along with decreased production as well as enhanced metabolic inactivation of testosterone leads to testicular atrophy in chronic alcoholic persons. Evidence for hypogonadism and feminization are also demonstrated frequently in chronic alcoholic men. Alcohol acts as a gonad toxin which specially affects Leydig cells. Quantitative and qualitative abnormalities are observed in semen of alcoholic men. Alcohol exerts a dual effect on the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. It directly inhibits testicular steroid genesis. It also blocks the release of LH-releasing hormone/LH from the hypothalamic–pituitary axis .Hence the male partner should be encouraged to stop alcohol consumption when a couple is planning to conceive. Measures should be taken from school level with special emphasis given on pubertal age group males as that is the age of starting alcohol consumption.