“Do blood pressure medications affect male fertility?”
I was just put on blood pressure medication- Lisinopril by my doctor- I am 45 years old. My wife and I want to start trying for a baby soon but we are worried that this could affect our chances or fetal development if the baby is conceived while I am on medication.
Are there any risks or fertility issues from blood pressure medication I should be aware of?
Are there any risks or fertility issues from blood pressure medication I should be aware of?
19 Answers
There is no known risk of the use of Lisinopril in males and the risk for babies. The risk of Lisinopril is when the mom has to be on blood pressure pills, since Lisinopril can cause birth defects, but not from the male being on it. Lisinopril can cause impotence, but also uncontrolled hypertension can cause impotence. Hope this helps
Usually no. There are very few first line antihypertensives that affect the pituitary axis and sex hormone levels. Some older antihypertensives are well know to affect libido in both men and women, but those are rarely indicated now.
Hi,
No, this blood pressure medicine and actually most blood pressure medication doesn't affect male fertility or sperm production. You should be fine with this medicine, and best of luck for
trying for a baby.
Dr Elsoury
No, this blood pressure medicine and actually most blood pressure medication doesn't affect male fertility or sperm production. You should be fine with this medicine, and best of luck for
trying for a baby.
Dr Elsoury
No anti hypertensive affects fertility. Some classes of blood pressure medication like beta blockers can affect the libido. Its safe for you to start trying to have a baby.
I wouldn't worry about Lisinopril causing inferility.
There are no significant effects on fertility from commonly used first line blood pressure medications including Lisinopril. Some patients complain about loss of libido or erection problem, but there is no scientific basis or research to confirm such side effects.
Please see this link: http://www.ehealthme.com/ds/lisinopril/infertility/
Regardless of gender, the preferred pre-conception assessment for each prospective parent is analyzing for nutrient deficiencies, toxins, and infections. Lisinopril rarely causes infertility (see the reference). You should have a sperm analysis first before starting the medication, and again along the way.
I am concerned about why you have hypertension in the first place. Do you have silver fillings (mercury amalgams) in your mouth? (See Houston http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1751-7176.2011.00489.x/full) Mercury toxicity impairs fertility, lowers zinc and selenium levels, and may contribute to immune dysfunction. Have you lived in a water-damaged environment? Are your B vitamins up to speed?
Wish you healthy success in making a lovely baby.
Regardless of gender, the preferred pre-conception assessment for each prospective parent is analyzing for nutrient deficiencies, toxins, and infections. Lisinopril rarely causes infertility (see the reference). You should have a sperm analysis first before starting the medication, and again along the way.
I am concerned about why you have hypertension in the first place. Do you have silver fillings (mercury amalgams) in your mouth? (See Houston http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1751-7176.2011.00489.x/full) Mercury toxicity impairs fertility, lowers zinc and selenium levels, and may contribute to immune dysfunction. Have you lived in a water-damaged environment? Are your B vitamins up to speed?
Wish you healthy success in making a lovely baby.
As far as I know, ACE inhibitors affect the the embrion and could even cause fetal death. Lisinopril is one of them. Look in the PDR, to know what is the effect of ACE inhibitors in males and females. Let me know your findings.
As far as I know, Lisinopril being taken by the male partner does not affect fertility. AACE Inhibitors, which Lisinopril belongs to as a class of blood pressure medications, has been associated with adverse outcomes in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. So, the mother or pregnant females should not take Lisinopril. Therefore, it should be safe for the male partner.
Dr. BURKE
Dr. BURKE
Lisinopril does not adversely affect male fertility. Lisinopril does not adversely affect sperm motility. Lisinopril does not cause or promote sperm mutations. Lisinopril does not promote or cause any birth defects in males. Lisinopril is one BP med in a family called ACE inhibitors. For any male, there is no infertility risk nor birth defect risk associated with any ACE inhibitor. The lisinopril is not deposited in semen and does not enter the female at all, and the male is unaffected.
And, no other BP medication has fertility compromise for the man.
Additionally, there is no chance that Lisinopril would affect or compromise fetal development if the baby is conceived while the man is taking the medication - - only a small risk exists if the woman is actually taking the medication daily, and the medicine has sustained blood levels in her circulation. This is not relevant for the man - he delivers no risk to the woman or to any fetus, be assured.
Rex Mahnensmith, MD
And, no other BP medication has fertility compromise for the man.
Additionally, there is no chance that Lisinopril would affect or compromise fetal development if the baby is conceived while the man is taking the medication - - only a small risk exists if the woman is actually taking the medication daily, and the medicine has sustained blood levels in her circulation. This is not relevant for the man - he delivers no risk to the woman or to any fetus, be assured.
Rex Mahnensmith, MD
There is some evidence in mice that lisinopril (or other drugs in the same class - Angiotension Converting Enzyme Inhibitors) might actually have benefits for fertility in men. There is no significant evidence to support the notion that an ACEI would have a negative effect on fertility, and nothing in development from the sperm side of the embryo.
Radia W. Khan
Internist
Lisinopril is only contraindicated for females during pregnancy.
Lisinopril has actually been linked to an increase in sperm counts in males. Lisinopril is in the category of BP meds called "ACE Inhibitors" and as a class, these should be quite safe for males attempting to have a child.
Lisinopril has not been shown to interfere with fertility. In fact a 5-year study of men with low sperm counts demonstrated an increase in sperm count and motility at a dose of 2.5 mg per day of lisinopril. Women, however, should not take lisinopril during pregnancy, because its use can cause serious developmental abnormalities in offsrping of the pregnancy.
I do not know of any suspected problems with lisinopril in relationship to your fertility concerns. Specifically, I am not away of any potential problems of lisinopril interfering with your production of healthy sperm. This question may be better answered by a fertility specialist.
Some BP medicines might affect fertility, however the risk is very mild. Benefits of treating high blood pressure outweigh such side effect of this medicine. According to current literature, the Lisinopri risk for impotence is around 1%, such risk is very mild comparing with the benefit of this medicine. In fact the current guidelines to treat high blood pressure recommend Lisinopril or other medicines in this group as one of the initial treatments for high blood pressure.
In regard fetal development, Lisinopril is contraindicated in woman during pregnancy, breast feeding or at time of conception. However, it has not been proven if a male takes Lisinopril at time of conceiving a baby would affect the fetal development.
Regards
In regard fetal development, Lisinopril is contraindicated in woman during pregnancy, breast feeding or at time of conception. However, it has not been proven if a male takes Lisinopril at time of conceiving a baby would affect the fetal development.
Regards
Some blood pressure drugs reduce sexual performance. This isn't one. This one is not good for the developing fetus and is not recommended for pregnant women. Male fertility is not generally an issue with blood pressure drugs.
There have been no studies that prove lisinopril causes infertility with males. I would assume it is safe to take. However it is an absolute contraindication for females to take Lisinopril if they want to get pregnant. I hope that helps.
Thanks for the your question, although many hypertensive medications like Beta-blocker and Calcium channel blockers have been linked to decrease male sexual performance and sperm counts, ACE inhbitors i.e. Lisinopril have not been reported to cause such side effects,however, in animal module the use of ACE-inhibitors has been shown to increase the sperm count
