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Ibuprofen (Nurofen) Can Inhibit Ovulation
Ibuprofen (Nurofen) Can Inhibit Ovulation. And Nurofen is linked to Infertility in Males.
Do you find yourself running to the medicine cabinet at the first sign of pain? If you do, you may want to rethink this behaviour because it might be doing more damage than what meets the eye.
Among the drugs that so often line these shelves are a class of medications known as ‘Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs’ or NSAID’s. These drugs appease inflammation and other ailments such as migraines, neck pains, back pain or period pain. Some commonly used NSAID’s include:
- Ibuprofen (such as Nurofen)
- Naproxen (such as Naprosyn)
- Diclofenac (such as Voltaren)
- Celecoxib (such as Celebrex)
Inflammation is part of the body’s innate intelligence, a method by which damage is repaired. Unfortunately when this gets painful, it can be difficult for some people to let the body heal itself unaided so they reach for the drugs. Can’t blame anyone for this – as you have been aggressively marketed to for generations now.
NSAID’s can do the job, they may dull the pain. However, this fast relief comes at a cost.
Raised liver enzymes, diarrhoea, headaches, dizziness, salt and fluid retention and high blood pressure are only a few of the numerous side effects that come with use of NSAID’s.
A research paper presented to the European League Against Rheumatism revealed another concerning side effect of NSAID’s. It was found that Naproxen, Ibuprofen (Nurofen) and other NSAID’s can inhibit ovulation after just 10 days.
The impact of this certainly reaches to women who wish to start a family, but has the potential to also affect many other women who struggle with inflammation and hormone imbalances.
The study took a group of women with mild musculoskeletal pain who were treated with a variety of NSAIDS, and compared them with a control group. The results were concerning. ‘After just ten days of treatment we saw a significant decrease in progesterone, a hormone essential for ovulation, across all treatment groups, as well as functional cysts in one third of patients,’ said study investigator Professor Sami Salman, Department of Rheumatology, University of Baghdad, Iraq.
‘These findings show that even short-term use of these popular, over-the-counter drugs could have a significant impact on a women’s ability to have children. This needs to be better communicated to patients with chronic pain, migraines and rheumatic diseases. Unfortunately people who may take these drugs on a regular basis with little awareness of the damaging impact.”
Of the group studied, only 6.3 per cent of women on Diclofenac ovulated. Only 25 per cent of Naproxen-treated participants and 27.3 per cent of those taking Etoricoxib ovulated. This was a stark comparison to the control group which was not treated with NSAID’s. Of these, 100 per cent ovulated.
Professor Sami Salman said that:
“The Clinical trial highlights the harmful effects NSAID’s may have on fertility, and could open the door for research into new medications with a more favourable safety profile than those currently in use.”
The study begs another question which remains, as yet, unanswered by research. How does this affect women who suffer from Oestrogen Dominance, in which decreased Progesterone levels play a role? The management of pain, inflammation and indeed fertility is something close to the heart of many practitioners and patients alike. While there is no easy answer on the use of these drugs, it’s an important consideration to make.
The Spinal Centre Comment:
While more research certainly needs to be conducted on the matter, any risk to the female reproductive system is quite alarming. Every drug has a side effect. Some you will be aware of. Others take time to become obvious.
Taking anti-inflammatory drugs is always be associated with risks, however until recently we did not know how much if affected reproduction in females. But also males: NSAID’s Linked to Infertility in Males.
Research shows that fertility rates have dropped by almost half since 1960; not surprising since we keep popping pill after pill. Continually dropping fertility rates will have drastic effects on the economy and see IVF rates sky rocket.
Infertility appears to be the ‘disease of the middle class’.
The Assisted Reproductive Technology in Australia and New Zealand 2015 Report showed a six per cent increase in the number of IVF treatment cycles performed in 2015 compared to 2014. In Australia today, one in 25 babies are now born via IVF, that is one in every classroom! The numbers are steadily increase each year.
Remember – Your Back Pain is not a Nurofen Shortage!
Use Corrective Chiropractic to address the underlying cause of your pains and not just cover up the symptoms. Avoid the very real dangers of long term drug use that can do farm more harm than good.
True Health comes from Optimal Spinal function, Great Posture, the Best Nutrition and Corrective exercise.
References
Aubusson, Kate, 2018, “Australia’s IVF rates revealed: one in every 25 births an IVF baby.” The Sydney Morning Herald https://www.smh.com.au/healthcare/australia-ivf-rates-revealed-one-in-every-25-births-an-ivf-baby-20180908-p502ja.html retrieved 5 October 2018.
EULAR Press Office, 2015 “Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit ovulation after just 10 days,’ Eureka Alert, http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-06/elar-nad061015.php retrieved 21 August 2015
SBS News, 2017, “IVF babies born with frozen embryos rise”, SBS News, https://www.sbs.com.au/news/ivf-babies-born-with-frozen-embryos-rise
Staff Writer, 2015, “Medications – Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs,” Better Health Channel https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/medications-non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory-drugs 5 October 2018.
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