Scrotal Botulinum Toxin Exposure and Male Fertility: Mechanistic Insights and Clinical Evidence.

Plain-language summary

This study set out to evaluate whether botulinum toxin injections near the scrotum or testicles affect male fertility. It reviewed animal studies and human case reports, focusing on outcomes like sperm health and testicular changes. The findings suggest that higher doses or injections close to the testicles in animals were linked to worse sperm production and testicular damage, while low doses farther away had no effect or even some benefits in aging models. Human evidence was too limited to draw firm conclusions, as studies mainly looked at pain relief or cosmetic results rather than fertility.

Key findings

• Animal studies showed higher-dose botulinum toxin near the testicles was linked to impaired sperm production.
• Human evidence was too limited to assess fertility effects, as studies did not measure sperm or hormonal outcomes.
• Current data cannot confirm the safety of scrotal botulinum toxin for men who want to preserve fertility.