Study Finds That 40% Of Birth Defects Are Linked To Men Who Use Diabetes Drugs Just Before pregnant

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To explain these findings, Germain Buck Louis, a George Mason University reproductive and perinatal epidemiologist, wrote alongside the study. He stated that there was evidence from previous studies suggesting that “altered testosterone may be an underlying mechanism raising concern over the antiandrogenic activities of oral diabetes pharmacologic drugs, including metformin”.

Louis also pointed out that, due to limitations in this study, further research was needed to determine if men who take metformin should be considered, particularly given the high incidence of diabetes that could require metformin use.

Men planning to have children are not advised by the US Food and Drug Administration to use metformin.

Louis stated that clinical guidance was needed to help couples who are planning to have a baby weigh the benefits and risks of paternal metformin in relation to other medications.