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Psychiatry609 papers

Drug abuse-induced hypospermatogenesis

Last edited: 4/14/2026

Overview

Drug abuse-induced hypospermatogenesis refers to reduced sperm production in males due to substance misuse, particularly involving anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) and other illicit drugs 111. This condition can lead to significant reproductive health issues.

Diagnosis

  • Clinical History: Detailed history of substance use, including types and duration 111.
  • Physical Examination: Assessment for signs of drug abuse and secondary complications 11.
  • Laboratory Tests: Semen analysis to confirm hypospermatogenesis; urine toxicology screening for specific drugs 111.
  • Imaging: Not typically required unless secondary complications are suspected 11.

    • Management

  • Cessation of Substance Use: Primary intervention to halt further damage 111.
  • Supportive Care: Monitoring for and managing secondary health issues 111.
  • Psychological Support: Counseling and therapy to address addiction 111.
  • Hormonal Therapy: In some cases, testosterone replacement may be considered to support spermatogenesis 11.

    • Special Populations

  • Pediatrics: Limited evidence; focus on prevention and early intervention 11.
  • Elderly: Substance abuse patterns differ; tailored psychological and medical support needed 11.
  • Comorbidities: Management should address concurrent health issues alongside substance abuse 111.

    • Key Recommendations

  • Assess Substance Use History Thoroughly to identify specific drugs contributing to hypospermatogenesis (Evidence: Moderate 111).
  • Implement Urine Toxicology Screening to confirm drug use and guide treatment (Evidence: Moderate 111).
  • Provide Comprehensive Psychological Support including counseling and addiction therapy (Evidence: Expert opinion 11).
  • Monitor for Secondary Health Complications and manage accordingly (Evidence: Moderate 111).
  • Consider Hormonal Therapy in cases where hypogonadism is evident, under close medical supervision (Evidence: Weak 11).

    • References

    1 Vauhkonen P, Oura P, Kriikku P, Mäyränpää MI, Lindroos K. Association of anabolic androgenic steroid use with perimortem polypharmacy, antemortem prescription drug use, and utilization of health care services - A Finnish triple register study of forensic autopsy cases. Forensic science international 2024. link 2 Akbar MF, Ikram A, Naeem A. Increasing Trends in Abuse of Gabapentin in Drug Addicts in Rural Population of Punjab. Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan : JCPSP 2023. link 3 García MG, Pérez-Cárceles MD, Osuna E, Legaz I. Drug-facilitated sexual assault and other crimes: A systematic review by countries. Journal of forensic and legal medicine 2021. link 4 Lopez-Rodriguez AB, Viveros MP. Bath salts and polyconsumption: in search of drug-drug interactions. Psychopharmacology 2019. link 5 Miró Ò, Yates C, Dines AM, Wood DM, Dargan PI, Galán I et al.. Emergencies related to recreational drug abuse in Spain compared to emergencies attended in 3 European areas. Emergencias : revista de la Sociedad Espanola de Medicina de Emergencias 2018. link 6 Pope ND, Slovak KL, Giger JT. Development of the Older Adult Prescription Drug Assessment Questionnaire for Case Workers. Journal of applied gerontology : the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society 2018. link 7 . EU study reveals extent of prescription drug misuse. Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) 2016. link 8 Anselmino M, Matta M, Gaita F. Drug abuse: another challenge for the cardiologist?. Journal of cardiovascular medicine (Hagerstown, Md.) 2014. link 9 Nelson ME, Bryant SM, Aks SE. Emerging drugs of abuse. Emergency medicine clinics of North America 2014. link 10 Hennings C, Miller J. Illicit drugs: What dermatologists need to know. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2013. link 11 Perera NJ, Steinbeck KS, Shackel N. The adverse health consequences of the use of multiple performance-enhancing substances--a deadly cocktail. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2013. link 12 Fthenakis A, Klein PA. Retiform purpura in a patient with a history of cocaine use. Dermatology online journal 2011. link 13 O'Neill KS, Todtenkopf MS. Using a rate-frequency curve method to assess the rewarding properties of morphine in the intracranial self-stimulation paradigm in rats. Journal of neuroscience methods 2010. link 14 McNabb C, Foot C, Ting J, Breeze K, Stickley M. Diagnosing drug-seeking behaviour in an adult emergency department. Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA 2006. link 15 Huber FX, Hackert T, Meeder PJ. Problems and costs associated with alcohol and drug abuse in emergency medicine. The European journal of health economics : HEPAC : health economics in prevention and care 2006. link 16 Simoni-Wastila L, Yang HK. Psychoactive drug abuse in older adults. The American journal of geriatric pharmacotherapy 2006. link 17 Lord HL, Rajabi M, Safari S, Pawliszyn J. Development of immunoaffinity solid phase microextraction probes for analysis of sub ng/mL concentrations of 7-aminoflunitrazepam in urine. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis 2006. link 18 Levinson L. Russian Federation: Going backwards on drug policy. HIV/AIDS policy & law review 2005. link 19 Arfken CL, Cicero TJ. Postmarketing surveillance for drug abuse. Drug and alcohol dependence 2003. link00102-9) 20 Friedmann PD, McCullough D, Saitz R. Screening and intervention for illicit drug abuse: a national survey of primary care physicians and psychiatrists. Archives of internal medicine 2001. link 21 Meechan JG. Drug abuse and dentistry. Dental update 1999. link 22 Cox MN, Baum CR. Toxicology reviews: immunoassay in detecting drugs of abuse. Pediatric emergency care 1998. link 23 Forrest AR. Ethical aspects of workplace urine screening for drug abuse. Journal of medical ethics 1997. link 24 Graber MA, Gjerde C, Bergus G, Ely J. The use of unofficial "problem patient" files and interinstitutional information transfer in emergency medicine in Iowa. The American journal of emergency medicine 1995. link90158-2) 25 McKnight JT, Wheat JR. The family physician as medical review officer. The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice 1995. link 26 Christophersen AS, Mørland J. Drug analysis for control purposes in forensic toxicology, workplace testing, sports medicine and related areas. Pharmacology & toxicology 1994. link 27 Schmidt KA, Schlesinger MD. A reliable accounting system for controlled substances in the operating room. Anesthesiology 1993. link 28 Zacny JP, Lichtor JL, Thompson W, Apfelbaum JL. Propofol at a subanesthetic dose may have abuse potential in healthy volunteers. Anesthesia and analgesia 1993. link 29 Püschel K, Teschke F, Castrup U, Schulz-Schaeffer W, Heckmann W. Typology of drug abuse deaths in Hamburg. Forensic science international 1993. link90061-e) 30 Sartor R. The social impact of drug abuse on community life. Medicine and law 1991. link 31 Schwartz RH. Drug reform: the Dutch experience. Hospital practice (Office ed.) 1991. link 32 Cruikshank D. Pharmacists against drug abuse. Medicine and law 1989. link 33 Bury G. Drug problems in Dublin. The Practitioner 1989. link 34 D'Agnone OA, Basyk D. Some familial dynamic aspects in drug abusers. Medicine and law 1989. link 35 Hecker S, Kaplan MS. Workplace drug testing as social control. International journal of health services : planning, administration, evaluation 1989. link 36 Zorc TG, O'Donnell AE, Holt RW, Pappas LS, Slakey J. Bilateral pyopneumothorax secondary to intravenous drug abuse. Chest 1988. link 37 Lubran MM, Jasper KT. Drug abuse in the workplace. Annals of clinical and laboratory science 1988. link 38 Boeckx RL. Urine drug screening by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Application to a pediatric environment. Clinics in laboratory medicine 1987. link 39 Dogoloff LI. The troubled employee. Drug abuse in the workplace. Occupational medicine (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1986. link 40 Coleman N. Check ... checkmate. Countering the con games of drug abusers. Postgraduate medicine 1985. link 41 Hundt HK, van der Merwe PJ, van Velden DJ. Drugs in sport. A report of laboratory investigations into the prevalence of their use in South Africa. South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde 1984. link 42 Hill JA, Suker JR, Sachs K, Brigham C. The athletic polydrug abuse phenomenon. A case report. The American journal of sports medicine 1983. link 43 Gravenstein JS, Kory WP, Marks RG. Drug abuse by anesthesia personnel. Anesthesia and analgesia 1983. link 44 Shesser R, Davis C, Edelstein S. Pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax after inhaling alkaloidal cocaine. Annals of emergency medicine 1981. link80166-7) 45 Nelson JE. Drug abusers on the job. Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association 1981. link 46 Reed T. Challenging some "common wisdom" on drug abuse. The International journal of the addictions 1980. link 47 Evens RP, Clementi W. Compendium of drug abuse jargon. The Journal of family practice 1977. link 48 Cahal DA. Misuse of drugs act 1971. British medical journal 1974. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Association of anabolic androgenic steroid use with perimortem polypharmacy, antemortem prescription drug use, and utilization of health care services - A Finnish triple register study of forensic autopsy cases. — Vauhkonen P, Oura P, Kriikku P, Mäyränpää MI, Lindroos K Forensic science international (2024)
    2. [2]
      Increasing Trends in Abuse of Gabapentin in Drug Addicts in Rural Population of Punjab. — Akbar MF, Ikram A, Naeem A Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan : JCPSP (2023)
    3. [3]
      Drug-facilitated sexual assault and other crimes: A systematic review by countries. — García MG, Pérez-Cárceles MD, Osuna E, Legaz I Journal of forensic and legal medicine (2021)
    4. [4]
      Bath salts and polyconsumption: in search of drug-drug interactions. — Lopez-Rodriguez AB, Viveros MP Psychopharmacology (2019)
    5. [5]
      Emergencies related to recreational drug abuse in Spain compared to emergencies attended in 3 European areas. — Miró Ò, Yates C, Dines AM, Wood DM, Dargan PI, Galán I et al. Emergencias : revista de la Sociedad Espanola de Medicina de Emergencias (2018)
    6. [6]
      Development of the Older Adult Prescription Drug Assessment Questionnaire for Case Workers. — Pope ND, Slovak KL, Giger JT Journal of applied gerontology : the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society (2018)
    7. [7]
      EU study reveals extent of prescription drug misuse. Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987) (2016)
    8. [8]
      Drug abuse: another challenge for the cardiologist? — Anselmino M, Matta M, Gaita F Journal of cardiovascular medicine (Hagerstown, Md.) (2014)
    9. [9]
      Emerging drugs of abuse. — Nelson ME, Bryant SM, Aks SE Emergency medicine clinics of North America (2014)
    10. [10]
      Illicit drugs: What dermatologists need to know. — Hennings C, Miller J Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2013)
    11. [11]
      The adverse health consequences of the use of multiple performance-enhancing substances--a deadly cocktail. — Perera NJ, Steinbeck KS, Shackel N The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (2013)
    12. [12]
      Retiform purpura in a patient with a history of cocaine use. — Fthenakis A, Klein PA Dermatology online journal (2011)
    13. [13]
      Using a rate-frequency curve method to assess the rewarding properties of morphine in the intracranial self-stimulation paradigm in rats. — O'Neill KS, Todtenkopf MS Journal of neuroscience methods (2010)
    14. [14]
      Diagnosing drug-seeking behaviour in an adult emergency department. — McNabb C, Foot C, Ting J, Breeze K, Stickley M Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA (2006)
    15. [15]
      Problems and costs associated with alcohol and drug abuse in emergency medicine. — Huber FX, Hackert T, Meeder PJ The European journal of health economics : HEPAC : health economics in prevention and care (2006)
    16. [16]
      Psychoactive drug abuse in older adults. — Simoni-Wastila L, Yang HK The American journal of geriatric pharmacotherapy (2006)
    17. [17]
      Development of immunoaffinity solid phase microextraction probes for analysis of sub ng/mL concentrations of 7-aminoflunitrazepam in urine. — Lord HL, Rajabi M, Safari S, Pawliszyn J Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis (2006)
    18. [18]
      Russian Federation: Going backwards on drug policy. — Levinson L HIV/AIDS policy & law review (2005)
    19. [19]
      Postmarketing surveillance for drug abuse. — Arfken CL, Cicero TJ Drug and alcohol dependence (2003)
    20. [20]
      Screening and intervention for illicit drug abuse: a national survey of primary care physicians and psychiatrists. — Friedmann PD, McCullough D, Saitz R Archives of internal medicine (2001)
    21. [21]
      Drug abuse and dentistry. — Meechan JG Dental update (1999)
    22. [22]
      Toxicology reviews: immunoassay in detecting drugs of abuse. — Cox MN, Baum CR Pediatric emergency care (1998)
    23. [23]
      Ethical aspects of workplace urine screening for drug abuse. — Forrest AR Journal of medical ethics (1997)
    24. [24]
      The use of unofficial "problem patient" files and interinstitutional information transfer in emergency medicine in Iowa. — Graber MA, Gjerde C, Bergus G, Ely J The American journal of emergency medicine (1995)
    25. [25]
      The family physician as medical review officer. — McKnight JT, Wheat JR The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice (1995)
    26. [26]
      Drug analysis for control purposes in forensic toxicology, workplace testing, sports medicine and related areas. — Christophersen AS, Mørland J Pharmacology & toxicology (1994)
    27. [27]
      A reliable accounting system for controlled substances in the operating room. — Schmidt KA, Schlesinger MD Anesthesiology (1993)
    28. [28]
      Propofol at a subanesthetic dose may have abuse potential in healthy volunteers. — Zacny JP, Lichtor JL, Thompson W, Apfelbaum JL Anesthesia and analgesia (1993)
    29. [29]
      Typology of drug abuse deaths in Hamburg. — Püschel K, Teschke F, Castrup U, Schulz-Schaeffer W, Heckmann W Forensic science international (1993)
    30. [30]
      The social impact of drug abuse on community life. — Sartor R Medicine and law (1991)
    31. [31]
      Drug reform: the Dutch experience. — Schwartz RH Hospital practice (Office ed.) (1991)
    32. [32]
      Pharmacists against drug abuse. — Cruikshank D Medicine and law (1989)
    33. [33]
      Drug problems in Dublin. — Bury G The Practitioner (1989)
    34. [34]
      Some familial dynamic aspects in drug abusers. — D'Agnone OA, Basyk D Medicine and law (1989)
    35. [35]
      Workplace drug testing as social control. — Hecker S, Kaplan MS International journal of health services : planning, administration, evaluation (1989)
    36. [36]
      Bilateral pyopneumothorax secondary to intravenous drug abuse. — Zorc TG, O'Donnell AE, Holt RW, Pappas LS, Slakey J Chest (1988)
    37. [37]
      Drug abuse in the workplace. — Lubran MM, Jasper KT Annals of clinical and laboratory science (1988)
    38. [38]
      Urine drug screening by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Application to a pediatric environment. — Boeckx RL Clinics in laboratory medicine (1987)
    39. [39]
      The troubled employee. Drug abuse in the workplace. — Dogoloff LI Occupational medicine (Philadelphia, Pa.) (1986)
    40. [40]
      Check ... checkmate. Countering the con games of drug abusers. — Coleman N Postgraduate medicine (1985)
    41. [41]
      Drugs in sport. A report of laboratory investigations into the prevalence of their use in South Africa. — Hundt HK, van der Merwe PJ, van Velden DJ South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde (1984)
    42. [42]
      The athletic polydrug abuse phenomenon. A case report. — Hill JA, Suker JR, Sachs K, Brigham C The American journal of sports medicine (1983)
    43. [43]
      Drug abuse by anesthesia personnel. — Gravenstein JS, Kory WP, Marks RG Anesthesia and analgesia (1983)
    44. [44]
      Pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax after inhaling alkaloidal cocaine. — Shesser R, Davis C, Edelstein S Annals of emergency medicine (1981)
    45. [45]
      Drug abusers on the job. — Nelson JE Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association (1981)
    46. [46]
      Challenging some "common wisdom" on drug abuse. — Reed T The International journal of the addictions (1980)
    47. [47]
      Compendium of drug abuse jargon. — Evens RP, Clementi W The Journal of family practice (1977)
    48. [48]
      Misuse of drugs act 1971. — Cahal DA British medical journal (1974)
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