Seroquel (quetiapine) and sperm count/motility

[MasterOfDeception]

So I would like to know some detailed answer about whether and how seroquel affects sperm count and motility.
Recently I gave sperm to a sperm bank as a donor , and the doctors said that my sperm is normal for sure (motility,concentration,and in short all parameteres within the normal value range) but for the purpose they want it they would like the motility to be high instead of just normal. Regardless of that, I would like to know the mechanism in which seroquel reduces sperm count/motility,and to what extent it does so,how it depends on the dosage, and to what extent it's reversible after reducing/quittuing seroquel

PS.Maybe this would fit best in Advanced Drug Discussion? Anyhow...

 

[Swimmingdancer]

Not really a BDD question. I'll try it in ADD for you...

Antipsychotics can reduce sperm count and motility (and cause other sexual/reproductive side effects) by increasing the hormone prolactin [source & source]. But as far as I can tell from researching, Seroquel (quetiapine) is apparently supposed to be one of the few antipsychotics that does not normally significantly affect prolactin [source].

Why do you think that having normal sperm motility means that Seroquel has in some way reduced your sperm motility? Or am I misunderstanding?

 

[sekio]

Being normal is... normal? Unless you had exceptionally motile sperm in the past it's likely nothing has changed.

 

[MasterOfDeception]

I didn't say it reduced it, it was just the causation for me to research it.

I know about prolactin,however I suppose there is more to it than prolactin as far as sexual side-fx are concerned. Sure even with 1200mg seroquel you can have normal erection & ejaculation eg, but still it suppresses you a bit,sexually,emotionally,psychologically. I can't tell the exact mechanism, maybe it has to do with it limiting the psychoemotional highs/lows (which has its goods obviously ). I remember for a short period that I was on no antipsychotics I was hypersexual while now I am just at decent/normal. And generally I was a bit more energized and active than normal and that is how I've always been by a default,since a child, now I am closer to the average.

So any hints on what other mechanism could alter sexuality directly, instead of indirectly (through psychoemotional regulation eg, as mentioned)

PS. I used to take 60mg Haldol +400mg Solian daily for almost a year, so unfortunately I know what elevated prolactine feels like

Thanks for the replies anyhow

 

[sekio]

Hypersexuality and sperm motility are unrelated, you do realize?

 

[MasterOfDeception]

Hypersexuality and sperm motility are unrelated, you do realize?

Of course, I didn't say the opposite, although it could be implied in my post so you are right. I just wanted to talk about general sexual side fx since it was mentioned. To put it short, I am sure it affects sexuality, and I am just researching whether and how it affects sperm motility as well.

Anyhow, reading this very good paper posted here seroquel(quetiapine) together with abilify affect sexuality less but still there is some suppression, mostly due to histamine and α-adrenergic antagonism (decreased erection/arousal according to the table in the paper)

There seems to be very few literature on the effect on sperm motility though, despite some correlation with prolactin levels.

 

[Swimmingdancer]

If you want to broaden the issue as to how drugs like Seroquel can affect sex in other ways, that is very complex and I think if we fully understood the precise mechanisms we would probably be making lots of money designing things like libido-enhancing and erection-enabling drugs, or antipsychotics and antidepressants that don't cause sexual side effects. Libido, arousal and sexual function are affected by a complicated mixture of chemical messengers: neurotransmitters, hormones, etc. Many drugs alter the levels or activity of these chemical messengers, causing various side effects.

Even for one specific effect, say difficulty achieving erection, or decreased sperm motility, all we really have are hypotheses and it is likely due to a number of factors.

 

[MasterOfDeception]

Sure that's not something to disagree with.

Still it was interesting to know that antagonists of histamine and α-adrenergin might play some role, which although small isn't negligible, since histamine and α-adrenergin regulate peripheral blood flow.

To sum it up, If I got it right :

The main reason for major sexual side-fx due to antipsychotis is prolactine elevation,caused by heavy D2 antagonism. Still, even in the case of antipsychotics that most likely won't elevate prolactin (Seroquel,Abilify), dopamine antagonism still affects sex since it messes with motive/reward mechanism.

Apart from that , histamine and α-adrenergic also play a role as mentioned above.

Not sure what the serotonin action of these drugs results in. It gets more complicated since eg seroquel not only antagonizes serotonin but also the serotonin auto-receptors.

 

[Swimmingdancer]

Yeah, that sounds about right to me. With the human brain/body it's not so simple as A causes B, it's like an interconnected web where any change can cause a ripple effect, especially where sex and the complex human reproductive system is concerned.

Serotonin can affect sex and the reproductive system in a number of ways. In animal studies it has even been found to play a role in sexual orientation, for example mice bred without the ability to respond to serotonin were bisexual. Another study in men found low serotonin to increase sex drive.

Combine a drug that affects numerous chemical messengers with a unique individual (we all have differences in out brains/bodies/metabolisms/pre-existing health or mental health issues, etc) and it's impossible to determine precisely how it will affect things like libido, erections, orgasm, ejaculation, sperm, etc.