Effect of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors on sperm motility and acrosome reaction: An in vitro study

• Published in: Investigative and clinical urology Vol. 62; no. 3; pp. 354 - 360
• Main Authors: Song, Seung-Hun, Shin, Dong Hyuk, Her, Young Sun, Oh, Mi Hee, Baek, Jung Won, Sung, Suye, Eum, Jin Hee, Heo, Yohan, Kim, Dong Suk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Urological Association 01.05.2021; Korean Urological Association; 대한비뇨의학회
• Subjects: Acrosome Reaction - drug effects; Adult; Cell Culture Techniques; erectile dysfunction; Humans; infertility; Male; Original; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors - pharmacology; phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor; Semen Analysis; Sildenafil Citrate - pharmacology; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility - drug effects; spermatozoa; Tadalafil - pharmacology; 비뇨기과학; Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor; Spermatozoa; Erectile dysfunction; Infertility
• ISSN: 2466-0493; 2466-054X; 2466-054X
• DOI: 10.4111/icu.20200394

Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are effective treatments for erectile dysfunction, and several recent studies have reported positive effects of PDE5 inhibitors on semen parameters as well. However, the data are still controversial. We investigated the effect of PDE5 inhibitors on sperm function by analyzing sperm motility and acrosome reaction. This study included young healthy men who underwent fertility evaluation; 32 cases were finally included. Men were excluded if they used a PDE5 inhibitor within 2 weeks or if they had insufficient semen volume (≤2 mL), leukocytospermia, or a genitourinary infection. Changes in sperm motility and acrosome reaction were determined after exposure to the maximal semen concentration of oral intake of sildenafil (100 mg) or tadalafil (20 mg). Mean age of the participants was 35.4±4.9 years, mean sperm concentration was 68.7±32.4 ×10⁶/mL, and mean sperm motility was 50.38%±8.41%. All three groups (control, sildenafil, tadalafil) experienced trends of decreased average sperm motility over time, but these changes were not significant. There were no significant differences between the three groups in the acrosome reaction after 120 minutes of drug exposure, either. The maximal semen concentration of oral intake of sildenafil (100 mg) or tadalafil (20 mg) did not substantially affect sperm motility or acrosome reaction. Our results suggest that on-demand use of a PDE5 inhibitor is safe and useful for the male partner of an infertile couple; however, further studies are warranted for daily PDE5 inhibitor use.