Tramadol (opioid) abuse is associated with a dose- and time-dependent poor sperm quality and hyperprolactinaemia in young men

Tramadol, one of the most commonly abused drugs in Middle East, impacts spermatogenesis and disturbs reproductive hormones in animal studies. We aimed to investigate tramadol impact on sperm quality and on levels of testosterone, prolactin and gonadotropins, in tramadol abusers (n = 30) to age-matched control (n = 30). Abusers had significantly low percentages of sperm motility, normal forms and vitality compared with control (95% CI −40.7 to −19.3, −13.5 to −9.3 and −31.9 to −9.7 respectively). Hypoandrogenism (95% CI −4.5 to −2.8), hyperprolactinaemia (CI (95%) 4.9 to 9.4) and hypergonadotropinaemia (95% CI 2.9 to 7.2 for FSH and 2.0 to 7.8 for LH) were observed in tramadol abusers vs controls. Smokers (26 of 30), concurrently abusing other drugs (11 of 30) and asymptomatic leucocytospermic (15 of 30) patients subgroups significantly abused tramadol beyond 3 years (p =.02, <.001, =.03 respectively) and in excess >450 mg/day (p =.02, =.01, =.005 respectively). Progressive motility (a + b%) was significantly low in young men <25 years old (p =.03) subgroup. Tramadol abuse is associated with poor sperm quality, hyperprolactinaemia and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. We recommend semen analysis for tramadol long-intakes, question sperm donors and follow-up studies to prevent and reverse tramadol-induced testicular damage.