Introduction
Drugs can negatively affect various organs and systems of the human body, including the reproductive system. The effect of different narcotic drugs on female reproductive function and the developing fetus is well known and actively discussed in the professional literature and the media. However, drugs can have a harmful effect not only on the female but also on the male body.
According to the latest data, 30 to 50% of cases of infertility in a couple are attributed to male infertility (American Addiction Centers, 2022). One of the leading roles in the increased number of cases of male infertility and impotence is attributed to the expanding market for narcotic drugs and issues of dependence on them. Drugs are believed to have some adverse effects on the male reproductive system.
The Influence of Drugs on the Male Body
Influence on hormonal regulation is one of the ways drugs affect male reproductive function. In the first case, the drug disrupts the usual regulation and cyclical release of sex hormones. Cannabis is highly likely to have this effect: recent studies prove that chronic consumption of crude cannabinoids can negatively affect central hormonal regulation mechanisms, particularly pituitary hormones (Maccarrone et al., 2020). This, in turn, disrupts the normal secretion of testosterone. In addition to cannabis, such effects are characteristic of cocaine, opiates, and alcohol.
In addition to affecting the hormonal background, some drugs can also affect erection and the formation of sexual desire. This is especially true for narcotic drugs with an inhibitory effect, such as alcohol and barbiturates (Ajayi & Akhigbe, 2020). In addition, chronic depression of the nervous system affects the potency and severity of erection. Interestingly, stimulant drugs can have the same effect when chronically used. The constant stimulation of testosterone production, spermatogenesis, and arousal eventually leads to testicular exhaustion and erectile dysfunction.
Conclusion
Thus, drugs can negatively affect male reproductive function through a disruption of hormonal regulation and negatively affect the formation of sexual desire. Furthermore, the impact of drugs is most often manifested with chronic use. This can have various consequences for the body of a man, including leading to the complete impossibility of having children. These facts cause concern and are a reason for further research.
References
Ajayi, A. F., & Akhigbe, R. E. (2020). The physiology of male reproduction: Impact of drugs and their abuse on male fertility. Andrologia, 52(9). Web.
American Addiction Centers (2022). Effects of drugs & alcohol on the reproductive system. Web.
Maccarrone, M., Rapino, C., Francavilla, F., & Barbonetti, A. (2020). Cannabinoid signaling and effects of cannabis on the male reproductive system. Nature Reviews Urology, 18(1), 19–32. Web.