How Thyroid Affect Male Fertility? Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Sperm progressive motility after incubation with increasing concentrations of levothyroxine (LT4). Under physiological conditions, T3 inhibits Sertoli cell proliferation and promotes maturation, essential for spermatogenesis 89, 90. If you are prescribed supplements containing iron, calcium or Gaviscon you should take these several hours before or after the levothyroxine since these can alter the absorption of levothyroxine. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

After treatment, if you are planning to have a baby you should first have a blood test to check your thyroid function. If you are not planning to get pregnant then use a contraceptive during and after treatment, as normal fertility synthroid dangers can return extremely quickly. Hudson and Edwards, (1992)37 have reported an increase in dialyzable free estradiol and without any change in dialyzable free testosterone.

Sperm function and semen

The study concluded that hypothyroidism adversely affected semen quality by compromising semen volume and progressive sperm motility. Similarly, all the studies on hyperthyroidism also reported adverse effects on male reproductive organs and fertility. Clyde et al. by studying individual cases reported adverse effects of hyperthyroidism on semen quality (26). Clyde looked at three individual case studies of men with hyperthyroidism and infertility. Hormone levels were measured and recorded, and the overall results indicated that all three patients had low sperm counts as well as decreased sperm motility. However, such abnormalities were corrected when the patients were treated for thyroid disease.

Antithyroid drugs alert card

Though early research suggested that thyroid hormones were not involved with the testes, male spermatogenesis, or erectile function, investigations on this topic over the past few decades have increased and shed new light. A literature review of studies conducted between 1963 and 2022 regarding male sexual dysfunction (SD) and thyroid disorders was performed to define the diagnostic consideration, pathophysiology, and management of SD secondary to thyroid dysregulation. This article provides evidence and interpretation of prior clinical and preclinical studies and contextualizes these studies for clinical practice.

Finally, a potential negative impact of RAI therapy on ovarian reserve has been reported 27. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. Thyroid problems often run in families and if family members are unwell they should be encouraged to discuss with their own GP whether thyroid testing is warranted.

• Finally, a potential negative impact of RAI therapy on ovarian reserve has been reported 27.
• Indeed, bothhyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are common in the general population, with aprevalence of 1% and at least 6%, respectively.
• The thyroid gland, known for regulating metabolism and energy, also plays a crucial role in the male reproductive system.
• Two genes (TRα and TRβ) encode five isoforms thatare obtained by alternate splicing (TRα1, TRα2, TRα3, TRβ1, and TRβ2).

The authors found low serum testosterone, low SHBG, subnormal testosterone responses to hCG and high mean gonadotropin levels. In five out of eight patients, semen analysis was performed but these data were not reported. However, the authors claimed there was some improvement in sperm count and its motility59. In prospective controlled study Krassas et al. investigated the effects of hypothyroidism on male spermatogenesis. They have performed semen analysis and have measured teratozoospermia index, fructose, and acid phosphate concentrations both before and after the treatment with T4 in 25 hypothyroid.

• In contrast, the current literature provides no consensus on the effect of hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis on female sexual function.
• In five out of eight patients, semen analysis was performed but these data were not reported.
• Given these data, it is not difficult to imagine that an altered thyroid functionaffects spermatogenesis and therefore semen quality.3,4 Most of the studies mentioned inthis article have been carried out in mice/rats and subsequently in humans.
• They conducted the investigation during the hypothyroid state and after the euthyroid state was achieved with T4 substitution therapy.

Leydig cells

Furthermore, the expression of TSH receptor in human granulosa cells as well as the increase of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) upon TSH stimulation have been described 17. Consequently, thyroid hormones impairment could affect markers of ovarian reserve, including anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) 18. In adult hypothyroid males impaired sexual behavior including hypoactive sexual desire (HSD), erectile dysfunction (ED) and ejaculatory disorders are prevalent. In these hypothyroid patients the sexual behavior improved with restoration of euthyroid status.2 The exact cause of sexual dysfunction in hypothyroidism is not clear. It could be attributed to persistent mild hyperprolactinemia as reported in the hypothyroid patients or it could be due to a rise in estrogen to testosterone ratio as reported by us and other or due to a CNS effect.

Thyroid eye disease

If you have any questions regarding the tests we offer, specific abstinence regimes or any other services, please use this form to reach out. Our dedicated team of Scientists is here to provide you with accurate and helpful answers. At Andrology Center, we offer not only a semen analysis (manual and AI) but also we are the only authorised lab in India to perform the SCSA® test for DNA fragmentation (DFI). Besides these, we carry out correlative tests such as Blood Tests (hormone assays and serology tests), Semen Culture, ROS Test, Karyotyping, Sperm Aneuploidy Test and Y-chromosome Microdeletion.

Clinical manifestations of SDs included erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction, impaired spermatogenesis, and disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Our aim of this communication was to perform a literature review detailing the impact of thyroid disorders on male SD. We hope to provide a framework for practicing urologists, endocrinologists, or general practitioners when evaluating patients with concurrent thyroid and male SD. It is important to recognize that thyroid disorders can be an important part of the pathophysiology of male SD in patients. Another avenue of future research involves improving our understanding of the role of menopause in the relationship between female sexual function and thyroid function. Thyroid gland, previously supposed not to have any impact on spermatogenesis and male fertility, are now being recognized as having important role in male reproductive functions.

When trying to conceive or during pregnancy, do not stop taking antithyroid drugs before speaking to your doctor. There is greater risk to the pregnancy from an untreated overactive thyroid gland than from taking antithyroid medication. Hypothyroid and hyperthyroid patients showed a decrease in progressive forward motility of the sperm.36,37,38 Thyroid hormones increases basal metabolic rate and stimulate oxygen consumption in metabolically active cells. Thyroid hormones stimulate cellular oxygen consumption by promoting the action of Na+/K+ ATPases,39 increasing mitochondrial number and mitochondrial gene expression.3 The role of T3 on ATP generation in males is speculated. However, specific studies on the modulatory effect of T3 on sperm ATPases and energy production needs to be studied.