Chapter 5: Evaluation of Drug Reproductive Toxicity and the Underlying Mechanisms

The potential negative effects of drugs on male fertility are of increasing concern. The effects of drugs on male fertility can be divided into three categories: hormonal effects, sexual dysfunction, and poor semen quality. The negative effect of drugs on male germ and somatic cells may ultimately affect fertility or the ability to produce healthy offspring. In order to enable patients to have offspring while minimizing adverse drug reactions, it is important to obtain optimal information on the relative toxicity of drugs. It is also necessary to explain the mechanism of drug toxicity in drug-induced infertility. Therefore, this chapter will describe the mechanisms involved in male germ cell and somatic cell toxicity and summarize the current advanced techniques for assessing drug toxicity and analysing the mechanism of drug toxicity.