Will The Use Of Dilantin Affect The Sperm In Men?

Dilantin is an anticonvulsant prescription drug used to treat people who suffer from epileptic seizures. According to the New York Methodist Hospital and the Minnesota Men's Health Center, Dilantin (phenytoin) may cause a lower sperm count and can lead to infertility in men. This is, however, not among the most common side effects of the medication, which include headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, insomnia, mild tremors and nausea. The severity of side effects usually depends on the dosage, as well as on the length of treatment. Some people taking Dilantin have also reported rashes and other skin irritations and liver damage.

In order to measure the actual risk or likelihood of infertility from taking this medication, it is telling that many professional sites dealing specifically with Dilantin do not actually list a decreased sperm count as a side effect. The sites that do refer to the possibility of infertility are often more general in nature and deal with phenytoin drugs and other long-term medical treatment more globally.