Abstract

Introduction: Drug abuse may alter function of sex organs. One of the well known drugs is opium, which its effects on spermatogenesis of addicted men studied in a main drug abuse center. Material & Methods: In this study; sperm analysis of 224 men (112 of them were addicted to use opium, and 112 healthy men) tested to evaluate possible effects on spermatogenesis. The results analyzed using the T-test and Chi-square statistical methods. Mean differences considered for values of p <= 0.05. Findings: There was a meaningful difference on sperm count, its flowing time and viscosity, spermatozoa morphology and motility. Conclusion: the results showed that addiction to opium has a lot of pathological effects on spermatogenesis that can cause infertility and low fertility in men, probably because of decrease in testosterone level related to possible suppressive effects of opium.