Login to Access Video or Poster Abstract: MP35-06
Sources of Funding: This investigation was supported by the University of Utah Study Design and Biostatistics Center, with funding in part from the National Center for Research Resources and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, through Grant 8UL1TR000105 (formerly UL1RR025764). _x000D_

Introduction

Data from animal studies and small trials show conflicting results regarding the effects of statins on semen quality. Evidence is even more limited in subfertile patients. We aimed to assess the effects of statin use on semen parameters. To investigate this, we retrospectively compared semen parameters in statin users vs. non-users in subfertile men. _x000D_

Methods

From 2002-2013, we reviewed data from 12257 subfertile men visited at our fertility clinic. Patients who reported using any statin drugs for >3 months before semen sample collection were identified. Data on patient age, medication use, and conventional semen parameters were extracted. 7698 subfertile men taking no medications served as controls. Patients who were using any known spermatotoxic medications were excluded from the study. Variables with non-normal distributions (concentration, total count, and total motile sperm count) were log-transformed for analyses and the corresponding coefficients were presented as ratios. Linear mixed effect regression models were used to test the effects of statin use on semen parameters adjusting for age. The model coefficients, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and p-values were reported, and statistical significance was assessed at the 0.05 level._x000D_ _x000D_

Results

A total of 109 patients were identified taking statins. Mean age was 38.3 (standard deviation: 7.3). Estimates from the age-adjusted regression model are presented in Table-1. Ejaculate volume was 0.3 ml lower (95% CI: -0.58, -0.02 ml, p-value=0.04) and sperm viability was 4.52% higher (CI: 1.65%, 7.39 %, p-value=0.002) in statin users compared to controls._x000D_

Conclusions

Statin use was not adversely associated with semen parameters other than semen volume in subfertile patients. However, this should be interpreted cautiously given the limited sample size and retrospective nature of this study. Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Funding

This investigation was supported by the University of Utah Study Design and Biostatistics Center, with funding in part from the National Center for Research Resources and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, through Grant 8UL1TR000105 (formerly UL1RR025764). _x000D_