The Possible Effects of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Medications on Sperm Quality.

AG The World Health Organization (WHO) defines infertility as the failure to achieve clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular unprotected sexual inter­ course. Infertility affects approximately 15% of couples in the Western world. A male factor is responsible for, or contributes to, approximately 50% of infertility cases. Often, individuals are subfertile rather than infertile (ie, sterile). Reduced fertility in men can result from various conditions, for example, obstruction of the genital tract, varicocele, ejaculatory dysfunction, genital infection, endocrine disturbance, or cryptorchidism. In approxi­ mately 30% of cases, it is not possible to determine the cause of infertility, which is known as idiopathic male infertility. In patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), previous surgery, disease activity, different types of medications, and poor nutritional status (eg, leading to zinc deficiency) can adversely affect sperm quality or lead to sexual dysfunction.