Paternal Medications in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Male Fertility and Reproductive Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Studies evaluating reproductive outcomes among male patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are limited. We evaluated use of IBD medications and association with semen parameters, a proxy of male fertility, and adverse pregnancy outcomes (early pregnancy loss [EPL], preterm birth [PB], congenital malformations [CM]).METHODS: We searched Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science (PROSPERO CRD42020197098) from inception to April 2022 for studies reporting semen parameters and adverse pregnancy outcomes among male patients exposed to biologics, thiopurine, or methotrexate. Standardized mean difference, prevalence, and odds ratios (ORs) of outcomes were pooled and analyzed using a random effects model.RESULTS: Ten studies reporting semen parameters (268 patients with IBD) and 16 studies reporting adverse pregnancy outcomes (over 25,000 patients with IBD) were included. Biologic, thiopurine, or methotrexate use were not associated with decreased sperm count, motility, or abnormal morphology compared with nonexposed patients. The prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes with paternal biologic (5%), thiopurine (6%), or methotrexate (6%) exposure was comparable to nonexposed patients (5%). Biologic use was not associated with risk of EPL (OR, 1.26; I2 = 0%;P =.12), PB (OR, 1.10; I2 = 0%; P = .17), or CM (OR, 1.03; I2 = 0%; P = .69). Thiopurine use was not associated with risk of EPL (OR, 1.31; I2 = 19%; P = .17), PB (OR, 1.05; I2 = 0%; P = .20), or CM (OR, 1.07; I2 = 7%; P = .34). Methotrexate use was not associated with risk of PB (OR, 1.06; I2 = 0%; P = .62) or CM (OR, 1.03; I2 = 0%; P = .81).CONCLUSIONS: Biologic, thiopurine, or methotrexate use among male patients with IBD are not associated with impairments in fertility or with increased odds of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Automated summary

This study examined the association between the use of IBD medications (biologics, thiopurine, methotrexate) and semen parameters as well as adverse pregnancy outcomes among male patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The results showed that there was no significant difference in sperm count, motility, or abnormal morphology between patients exposed to IBD medications and nonexposed patients. The prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes was also similar between the two groups. Therefore, the use of IBD medications does not impair male fertility or increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.