Impaired Semen Quality in Crohn's Disease—Drugs, Ill Health, or Undernutrition?

Abstract

Even though abnormalities of semen quality in inflammatory bowel disease have been attributed to sulfasalazine therapy, oligospermia was found in 46% of men with Crohn''s disease, none of whom were receiving this drug. Oligospermia occurred more commonly than in men with celiac disease (6%, P < 0.02), although disordered sperm motility and morphology were found commonly in both conditions. Factors, such as disease activity, nutritional status and, possibly, other drugs must also be considered when investigating infertility in Crohn''s disease.