Scientists have discovered a link between paracetamol and male infertility

The accumulation of high doses of paracetamol in the body can have a toxic effect on the male reproductive system, significantly reducing the number of active sperm. This alarming conclusion was reached by researchers from Brunel University in London, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Statistics from recent years raise serious concerns: the sperm count in men worldwide is rapidly declining. In one generation, this indicator has decreased by a shocking 60%. If before 2000, specialists recorded a decrease in male fertility by 1% annually, now this process has accelerated twofold.

UK medical professionals note with alarm that modern young men are almost three times more likely to face fertility problems compared to older generations. This phenomenon is already reflected in the demographic situation: the birth rate in the country has fallen below the level necessary for natural population reproduction.

Scientists from Brunel University have put forward an unexpected hypothesis: one of the factors undermining male fertility could be the widely used painkiller - paracetamol. A large-scale study covering almost a thousand men revealed a disturbing fact: all participants had paracetamol concentrations in their urine exceeding acceptable norms.

Researchers have suggested that paracetamol in combination with other chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system can accumulate in the body, exerting a prolonged toxic effect and reducing the number of viable sperm. Laboratory experiments on mice confirmed this connection: rodents that received paracetamol and underwent fetal testicular tissue transplantation showed a significant decrease in testosterone production.

The problem of declining male fertility is also linked by scientists to another popular painkiller - ibuprofen. Studies show that this drug can lower testosterone levels and prevent normal sperm production. However, not all medical experts consider pharmaceutical drugs to be the main culprits behind the growing problem of male infertility.

"The influence of endocrine disruptors is a problem that causes concern among all qualified doctors. Of course, this factor will not lead to reduced fertility in all men without exception - genetic predisposition and lifestyle also play a significant role," explained British endocrinologist Annis Mukherjee.