Sildenafil citrate (Viagra) impairs fertilization and early embryo development in mice

ObjectiveTo determine the effects of sildenafil citrate, a cyclic monophosphate–specific type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitor known to affect sperm function, on fertilization and early embryo cleavage.DesignThis acute mammal study included male and female mice assigned randomly, the females sacrificed after mating and their oocytes/embryos evaluated at four time periods after treatment.SettingAcademic research environment.Animal(s)Male and female CBAB6 mice.Intervention(s)Female mice were injected intraperitoneally with 5 IU gonadotropin (hCG) to stimulate follicular growth and induce ovulation. They were each caged with a male that had been gavaged with sildenafil citrate (0.06 mg/0.05 mL) and allowed to mate. After 12, 36, 60, and 84 h, females were killed, their oviducts were dissected out, and retrieved embryos were assessed for blastomere number and quality.Main Outcome Measure(s)Fertilization rates and numbers of embryos were evaluated after treatment.Result(s)Fertilization rates (day 1) were markedly reduced (−33%) in matings where the male had taken sildenafil citrate. Over days 2–4, the numbers of embryos developing in the treated group were significantly fewer than in the control group. There was also a trend for impaired cleavage rates within those embryos, although this did not reach significance.Conclusion(s)The impairments to fertility caused by sildenafil citrate have important implications for infertility centers and for couples who are using this drug precoitally while attempting to conceive.