Females Beware!!! Drugs Taken For Painful Periods Could Cause Infertility – Research Says

Women have been cautioned against taking
drugs for painful periods and back pain as
it could cause infertility.
A new study revealed that drugs such as
naproxen, diclofenac, ibuprofen and aspirin
which are largely used for the treatment
of pain, inflammation, painful periods
and fever can reduce a woman’s
fertility.
The researchers analyzed the effects of
the 3 NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-
Inflammatory Drugs) on fertility.
As part of the study, painkiller study
investigator, Prof. Sami Salman, of the
University of Baghdad, Iraq recruited 39
women of childbearing age who suffer
from back pain to take part in the study.
The women received diclofenac (100mg
once daily), naproxen (500mg twice daily)
and etoricoxib (90mg once daily) or a
placebo.
The drugs were given 10 days after the
beginning of their menstrual cycle, the
first day of a woman’s period.
Researchers tested whether the women
had ovulated by analyzing the level of
the hormone progesterone, via a blood
sample. They also measured the diameter
of the dominant follicle, a fluid-filled
cavity in the ovaries that contains one
undeveloped egg, using ultra sonography,
a form of ultrasound.
The team found that of the women
receiving NSAIDs, only 6.3% of those
taking diclofenac ovulated, and only 25%
of women taking naproxen and 27.3%
taking etoricoxib ovulated.
This was compared with 100% of women
in the control group, who were not
taking medication.
Based on the findings Salman said:
“After just 10 days of treatment we saw a
significant decrease in progesterone, a
hormone essential for ovulation, across
all treatment groups, as well as
functional cysts in one third of patients.
These findings show that even short-term
use of these popular, over-the-counter
drugs could have a significant impact on
a women’s ability to have children.”
Also doctors said the risk of reduced
fertility associated with the drugs, must
be communicated to women regularly
taking the medication.