Sulphasalazine and spermatogenesis

Abstract

The semen of 11 patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with sulphasalazine (Salazopyrin) was analysed and compared with that of 6 men with similar disease not treated with the drug. The treated group had significantly reduced sperm population density and motility compared with the untreated group. Both groups had high numbers of abnormal spermatozoa compared with the standard for our laboratory, but there was no significant difference between the two groups for this parameter. Sulphasalazine has a deleterious effect on spermatogenesis.