‘I'm surprised this hasn't been tried before’: This acne medication may counter male infertility

Researchers found that treatment with retinoic acid, which the body produces from vitamin A and is found in prescription acne medications, increased sperm production in some infertile men to the point of avoiding the need for testicular sperm extraction procedures, according to the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics.“I don't like the word ‘miraculous,’ but it really changes everything for infertile couples,” said reproductive biology researcher, Janice Bailey, who is vice-president of research and scientific director of the nature and technology sector at the Quebec Research Fund.The study involved 30 men with non-obstructive azoospermia (a complete absence of sperm in the semen) or cryptozoospermia (the presence of a barely detectable amount of sperm in the semen).Participants received 20 milligrams of retinoic acid twice daily. Their sperm quality was assessed over a period of three to nine months. Just over a third of the participants, or 11 of them, “developed a reliable and motile ejaculated sperm count with treatment,” the authors stated.Some men were even able to continue producing sperm after the end of treatment.No spontaneous pregnancies have been reported in connection with the treatment. However, one birth has been reported among participants who had a complete response to treatment and whose sperm was used in an in vitro fertilization procedure. One pregnancy has also been reported among participants who had a partial response to treatment.The researchers point out that retinoic acid plays a key role in sperm production in mammals. They therefore hypothesize that an intratesticular deficiency of this acid may be responsible for infertility in some men.“Retinoic acid concentrations are often lower in the testicles of infertile men,” said Bailey. “To be honest, I'm surprised this hasn't been tried before. We've known for 20 years that retinoic acid is important in (sperm production).”This study opens up many interesting avenues, said Bailey. First, the cost of a prescription for retinoic acid is minimal compared to that of in vitro fertilization, she pointed out.Beyond these financial considerations, infertility treatment is hard on men, and even more so for women, who often bear the brunt of the burden, Bailey pointed out.“It could be a very good idea to try this before, for example, performing testicular biopsies, which can cause damage,” she said.Couples struggling with infertility should absolutely not turn to retinoic acid without medical supervision, Bailey warned.Crucial roleRetinoic acid plays a crucial role in cell division and differentiation. Women who take it must use contraception to avoid becoming pregnant, as their fetuses could develop abnormalities.On the male side, there has been a 50% to 60% decline in sperm production since the 1970s, Bailey noted, “and that's very worrying.” Environmental factors such as plastics and contaminants may be to blame.Scientific literature clearly shows that sperm quality problems can be associated with other health issues and even that these men may have a shorter life expectancy, she said.“Men need to take care of themselves by adopting healthy lifestyle habits, not only to optimize their reproductive health and be able to become fathers, but also to protect themselves and enjoy a better quality of life,” concluded Bailey.This article has been translated from its original French and first appeared on our sister site Profession Santé.

‘I'm surprised this hasn't been tried before’: This acne medication may counter male infertility

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