Paracetamol is one of the most common painkillers and antipyretics, which is taken without fear by millions of people around the world. But is it as safe as it seems? New studies indicate a worrying trend. The familiar drug can negatively affect male fertility, in particular, reduce sperm motility and viability. WomanEL tells why paracetamol is a “silent threat” to reproductive health.
Content What scientists discoveredExtinction in numbers: sperm count is decreasing every yearIs there an alternative? 
Silent threat: how common paracetamol kills sperm. Source: pinterest.com
What scientists discovered
A study published by the Daily Mail confirmed that paracetamol lowers testosterone levels and reduces sperm motility. That is, male cells become less active and less capable of fertilization. And with prolonged use, this drug accumulates in the body, and the effect intensifies.
Scientists also emphasize that paracetamol can affect the body even before birth. If a pregnant woman uses this drug, it can affect the development of the reproductive organs of the unborn baby boy.
Extinction in numbers: sperm numbers are decreasing every year
Experts warn that sperm counts in men around the world have declined by more than 60% in recent decades. If this trend continues, male infertility could become a widespread phenomenon by 2045. And one of the factors behind this is the excessive and uncontrolled use of paracetamol.
Is there an alternative?
“When we talk about the health of the future generation, we should pay attention not only to nutrition and lifestyle, but also to medications that seem safe,” emphasizes Professor James Hamilton, one of the authors of the study.
It is difficult to completely avoid paracetamol. But doctors advise not to abuse it without extreme necessity, especially during pregnancy. It is worth consulting with a doctor and looking for more gentle methods of pain relief and fever reduction. Because health is not only about the here and now, but also about the future.
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