Gonadal function in male heroin and methadone addicts

Abstract

Gonadal function was elevated in 80 male heroin and/or methadone addicts by measuring basal plasma levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL) and testosterone. In 41 subjects semen analyses were also undertaken. Three groups were distinguished consisting of 15 heroin addicts, 42 undergoing methadone treatment but continuing to take heroin, and 23 taking only methadone. All patients had normal plasma levels of FSH, LH and testosterone. Prolactin levels were normal in all subjects except for the 15 heroin addicts, in whom they were significantly higher than in controls (P less than 0.025). Semen analyses from all of the heroin addicts and from the dual heroin-methadone users were abnormal, whereas only 10 out of 22 (45%) of the methadone takers were pathological. In all cases asthenospermia was one of the abnormalities (100%). Twenty-four per cent also showed teratospermia and hypospermia and 17% showed oligozoospermia. Such seminal pathology, especially of forward motility, even in combination with normal hormone levels, might be an early indication of heroin toxicity to the male reproductive tract.

Gonadal and Adrenal Abnormalities in Drug Users: Cause or Consequence of Drug Use Behavior and Poor Health Outcomes

“…Reduced testosterone is also seen commonly among those on methadone maintenance [13] . In addition, opiate administration is also associated with abnormal spermatogenesis in men [14] and has been associated with reduced sexual performance. In females, opiate administration leads to significant inhibition of LH release.…”

Regulation of Male Fertility by the Opioid System

“…As a result, sperm motility is considered to be one of the key functions that control reproduction (75). The opioid system could be involved in the control of sperm movement, since asthenozoospermia (reduced motility) is a common pathology found in the sperm of opiate drug addicts (76), and asthenozoospermic patients show reduced levels of metenkephalin in seminal plasma (77).…”

Human immunodeficiency virus and assisted reproduction: reconsidering evidence, reframing ethics

“…Risk of infertility due to an ovulatory abnormality is increased in women who smoke marijuana, and cocaine has been associated with increased risk for tubal infertility (56). Chronic opiate use is often associated with poor nutritional status and menstrual dysfunction or amenorrhea (57); heroin addiction has been associated with decreased sperm motility, oligospermia, and abnormal sperm morphology, probably secondary to decreased testosterone production with relative hypofunction of seminal tracts and accessory glands (58).…”