The Effect of Recreational Drugs on Hormonal Parameters in Pakistani Infertile Males

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effects of the different recreational drugs (cigarettes, dipping tobacco and marijuana) on the hormonal parameters of infertile Pakistani males.

Methodology:  This case Control study was conducted at the Institute of Basic Medical Science, Khyber Medical University (IBMS-KMU), Peshawar, Bannu Medical College (BMC), Samad Clinical Laboratories, and Shah Noor Medical laboratories Bannu from   2016-2018. The study population consisted of 160 apparently healthy infertile adult males of Pashtoon ancestry which were divided in to four groups, consisting of (n = 40) subjects each. The serum was brought to room temperature and then left for 30 minutes. Hormonal profiles of LH, FSH and testosterone were measured by ELISA technique using commercially available kits.     

Results: The level of FSH in the serum of controls, smokers, dipping tobacco users and marijuana users was 1.72 IU/L, 2.50 IU/L, 2.12 IU/L and 3.06 IU/L respectively. The results show an increase in the level of FSH in the recreational drugs users as compared to controls. The level of serum Luteinizing hormone among different groups was observed to be 2.44 IU/L, 1.91 IU/L, 2.11 IU/L and 2.04 IU/L for controls, smokers, dipping tobacco users and marijuana users respectively, showing a decrease in groups using recreational drugs as compared to controls. The decrease was more pronounced in smokers, followed by marijuana users and dipping tobacco users. Serum testosterone level in different groups of the study were4.42 ng/ml, 3.81 ng/ml, 3.57 ng/ml and 3.59 ng/l in controls, cigarette smokers, dipping tobacco users and marijuana users, respectively.

Conclusion: Our study showed that the users of recreational drugs affect the hormonal parameters, which in turn causes a decrease in sperm count, and active motility, thereby causing infertility.