The effect of colchicine treatment on sperm production and function: a review

Colchicine is used for the treatment of various diseases including goutyarthritis, familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and Behcet's disease. As amodulator of the microtubules at the cytoskeleton level, it arrests celldivision at metaphase and inhibits microtubular- dependent cell motility.Controversy exists as to the adverse effect of colchicine on spermproduction and function in healthy subjects as well as in gout, FMF andBehcet's patients. Sperm analysis shows a spectrum of pathology, fromoligo- and azoospermia to normospermia with disturbances in sperm motility.These inconsistent sperm pathologies can be explained in part by thevariability of the pathophysiology of the underlying disease. Thus, itseems that colchicine by itself may not have a significant direct adverseeffect on sperm production and function.