Statins significantly increase sperm abnormalities

This study was published in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 2014 Jul 12;12(1):65

Study title and authors:
Evaluation of atorvastatin efficacy and toxicity on spermatozoa, accessory glands and gonadal hormones of healthy men: a pilot prospective clinical trial.

Pons-Rejraji H, Brugnon F, Sion B, Maqdasy S, Gouby G, Pereira B, Marceau G, Gremeau AS, Drevet J, Grizard G, Janny L, Tauveron I.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25016482

This study investigated the effect of statins on male fertility. In the study semen parameters were measured in 17 healthy young men (average age 24 years) who were given atorvastatin for five months.

The study found:
(a) Semen volume decreased by 10%.
(b) Sperm concentration decreased by 25%.
(c) The number of sperm decreased by 31%.
(d) The vitality of the sperm decreased by 9.5%
(e) Sperm head abnormalities increased by 11%.
(f) Sperm neck and midpiece abnormalities increased by 33%.
(g) Sperm tail abnormalities increased by 4.5%.
(h) Excess residual cytoplasm (which can impair overall sperm function and produce higher levels of reactive oxygen species, potentially leading to male infertility) increased by 68%.

Pons-Rejraji concluded that atorvastatin: "affected significantly sperm parameters of young and healthy men and was considered as deleterious... in view of our results in this young population, it may be considered that the effects could be more pronounced among older men specifically if less healthy".