Can Ivermectin Cause Male Infertility?

A lot of rumors and unverified information were generated over the course of the pandemic. Ivermectin was reported to be a potential treatment for COVID-19. It was also rumored that the drug also caused low sperm count. In this article, we discuss ivermectin, its abilities, and if it can indeed cause low sperm count.

What is Ivermectin?

Ivermectin is an antiparasitic medication that is used on humans and animals; it is used to get rid of parasites. In human beings, ivermectin is used to treat parasitism by lice and scabies (mites). It can also be used in conditions that are caused by parasites like river blindness (onchocerciasis), intestinal strongyloidiasis, and rosacea. Ivermectin can be used in animals to treat parasites like ticks, and mites, prevent heartworm disease, and eradicate intestinal parasites.

The doses and forms of ivermectin are different for human beings and animals. The veterinary forms of ivermectin are usually more concentrated with constituents that are harmful to human consumption. Ivermectin can also be toxic to overdose and is usually a prescribed medication. The mechanism of action of ivermectin is the paralysis of the worm larvae and its elimination. Its action paralyzes the adult worms on the other hand and may need repeated doses in order to treat infections.

Can Ivermectin treat COVID-19?

The drug was touted as a curative for COVID-19, and in some cases, it was also said to be able to prevent infection as well. In prior research on ivermectin, their examination of its antiviral activity in the laboratory may have prompted the idea that the medication was effective against the coronavirus. However, a drug’s activity in the lab may not be replicated inside the body of an organism. An example of this is that while in the lab, ivermectin has been shown to have an action against viruses including the Zika virus, when taken in the body, it is not effective, especially by people who have these viruses.

There has also been no evidence that the drug is effective against COVID-19 either. There is currently no data to suggest that and it is not included in the list of emergency treatments for COVID-19. The WHO has also advised against its use in the treatment of COVID-19.

Can Ivermectin Cause Male Infertility?

It has been reported that ivermectin use could cause low sperm count and ultimately results in male infertility. This has led to the question of the impact of ivermectin on fertility even with its prescribed use against parasites. It turns out that there is no substantial proof that the drug significantly affects male fertility.

It turns out that many of the news pieces written regarding the subject used a short study from 2011 that discovered diminished sperm parameters in subjects who took ivermectin for roughly 11 months. The study specifically identified significantly lower sperm motility and sperm count. It also detected a significantly higher number of abnormal sperm cells in the study group. But a better observation and interpretation of the study seems to suggest that the problems may have been caused by the parasitic disease instead of the drug administration. This is because out of the original 385 patients who were diagnosed with onchocerciasis, the study only included 37 participants after excluding those with very low sperm count. The low sperm count of these original participants leads to the earlier conclusion.

The study also failed to include a control group to help in pointing out if the study outcomes were in fact caused by the ivermectin or another factor. The study hence can be termed to be an unreliable study. Some other studies that were done on rats that administered ivermectin with the drug verapamil, a blood pressure medication, had a slight impairment in their stem cell production. Other researchers, however, have linked verapamil with reduced sperm parameters in rats. As a result, there is not enough evidence to categorically show a significant effect of ivermectin on male fertility. On another note, while ivermectin may not have any effect on male fertility, it may cause some other side effects, which include:

• Shaking
• Chest pain
• Skin rash
• Dizziness
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue and lethargy

Following the prescription of the drug is very important, especially if it is prescribed for legitimate use like against parasites.

Can taking ivermectin be unsafe?

Ivermectin has not been authorized for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19 in human beings or animals. There is a lot of existing misinformation and it has not been shown to be effective for these indications. It is not safe or okay to use ivermectin in large doses. Even the recommended dose of ivermectin can still interact with other drugs like blood thinners. It is quite possible to overdose on ivermectin, and this can lead to the following:

• Hypotension
• Ataxia
• Seizures
• Coma
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Allergic reactions
• Death.

What should one be aware of before taking ivermectin?

It is important to avoid ivermectin if the individual is allergic to it. Also, it is important for the individual to let their doctor know of any pre-existing medical condition like liver, kidney disease, cancer, HIV or AIDS, or other conditions that can affect the immune system. It is not known the effects of ivermectin on an unborn baby. But it is important to let the doctor know if the person is pregnant or plans to become pregnant during the administration of this medication. It is also important to let the doctor know if the person is a nursing mother, as ivermectin has the ability to pass into the breast milk and can harm a baby. Ivermectin should not be administered to a child who weighs less than 15kg.