The Potential Risk of Povidone-Iodine in Sperm Quality: A Case Report.

To report a rare case of severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia which seems to be associated with long-term topical povidone-iodine (PVP-I) therapy. A 45-year-old man with secondary infertility was diagnosed with mild asthenospermia before undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). A repeat sperm analysis (SA) on June 30, 2022, after three months of using compound PVP-I liniment to treat fungal infection under a fingernail and toenail, revealed severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. After 77 days of drug withdrawal, sperm concentration, and normal morphology gradually returned to normal, but motility was only partially restored. It seems that the usage of PVP-I has a side effect of causing a decline in sperm quality. Although the exact mechanism of this adverse effect of PVP-I is unclear, men who are in fertility treatment should be informed of the potential risks. J Drugs Dermatol. 2025;24(3):e11-e13.  doi:10.36849/JDD.7342.