Frequent use of common painkillers may affect hormone levels, experts say

Medical experts have warned that frequent and prolonged use of over-the-counter painkillers can cause temporary hormonal changes in both men and women. Researchers cited a study in which ibuprofen was taken at the maximum daily dose for six weeks by young men. The study found that luteinizing hormone levels rose while the testosterone-to-luteinizing hormone ratio fell, a pattern the researchers described as compensated hypogonadism, in which the body adjusts testosterone production to keep it within a normal range. Mike Kutchis, founder of the health site Wazan Hormonati, said the body's compensatory effort could eventually reduce its capacity to maintain hormonal balance if sustained over long periods. In a separate clinical study, women who took diclofenac, naproxen or etoricoxib for 10 days experienced sharp drops in ovulation rates — 93 percent with diclofenac and 75 percent with naproxen — along with marked declines in progesterone levels. The experts noted that the UK National Health Service advises caution in the use of such drugs by women who are trying to conceive or are pregnant. They recommended that anyone needing regular ibuprofen consult a pharmacist or doctor.