News
Warning! Ibuprofen Linked to Male Infertility, Ulcer
Ibuprofen has a negative impact on the testicles of young men, a study published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found.
Also, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) on Tuesday warned against self-medication and particularly misuse of Ibuprofen which could expose one to stomach ulcer.
When taking ibuprofen in doses commonly used by athletes, a small sample of young men developed a hormonal condition that typically begins, if at all, during middle age. This condition is linked to reduced fertility.
Advil and Motrin are two brand names for ibuprofen, an over-the-counter pain reliever. CNN has contacted Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, the makers of both brands, for comment.
The Consumer Healthcare Products Association, a trade group that represents manufacturers of over-the-counter medications and supplements, “supports and encourages continued research and promotes ongoing consumer education to help ensure safe use of OTC medicines,” said Mike Tringale, a spokesman for the association.
“The safety and efficacy of active ingredients in these products has been well documented and supported by decades of scientific study and real-world use.”
The new study is a continuation of research that began with pregnant women, explained Bernard Jégou, co-author and director of the Institute of Research in Environmental and Occupational Health in France.
Jégou and a team of French and Danish researchers had been exploring the health effects when a mother-to-be took any one of three mild pain relievers found in medicine chests around the globe: aspirin, acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol and sold under the brand name Tylenol) and ibuprofen.
Their early experiments, published in several papers, showed that when taken during pregnancy, all three of these mild medicines affected the testicles of male babies.
Testicles and testosterone
Testicles not only produce sperm, they secrete testosterone, the primary male sex hormone. All three drugs then are “anti-androgenic,” meaning they disrupt male hormones, explained David M. Kristensen, study co-author and a senior scientist in the Department of Neurology at Copenhagen University Hospital.
The three drugs even increased the likelihood that male babies would be born with congenital malformations, Kristensen noted. Tringale noted that pregnant and nursing women should always ask a health professional before using medicines.
Knowing this, “we wondered what would happen in the adult,” he said. They focused their investigation on ibuprofen, which had the strongest effects.
A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, ibuprofen is often taken by athletes, including Olympians and professional soccer players for example, before an event to prevent pain, Jégou said. Are there health consequences for the athletes who routinely use this NSAID?
The research team recruited 31 male volunteers between the ages of 18 and 35. Of these, 14 were given a daily dosage of ibuprofen that many professional and amateur athletes take: 600 milligrams twice a day, explained Jégou. (This 1200-mg-per-day dose is the maximum limit as directed by the labels of generic ibuprofen products.) The remaining 17 volunteers were given a placebo.
For the men taking ibuprofen, within 14 days, their luteinizing hormones — which are secreted by the pituitary gland and stimulate the testicles to produce testosterone — became coordinated with the level of ibuprofen circulating in their blood. At the same time, the ratio of testosterone to luteinizing hormones decreased, a sign of dysfunctional testicles.
This hormonal imbalance produced compensated hypogonadism, a condition associated with impaired fertility, depression and increased risk for cardiovascular events, including heart failure and stroke.
For the small group of young study participants who used ibuprofen for only a short time, “it is sure that these effects are reversible,” Jégou said.
However, it’s unknown whether the health effects of long-term ibuprofen use are reversible, he said. After this randomized, controlled clinical trial, the research team experimented with “little bits of human testes” provided by organ donors and then conducted test tube experiments on the endocrine cells, called Leydig and Sertoli cells, which produce testosterone, explained Jégou.
The point was to articulate “in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro” — in the living body, outside the living body and in the test tube — that ibuprofen has a direct effect on the testicles and so testosterone.
“We wanted to understand what happened after exposure (to ibuprofen) going from the global human physiology over to the specific organ (the testis) down to the endocrine cells producing testosterone,” Kristensen said.
More than idle curiosity prompted such an extensive investigation.
Questions around male fertility
The World Health Organization estimates that one in every four couples of reproductive age in developing countries experiences childlessness despite five years of attempting pregnancy.
A separate study estimated that more than 45 million couples, or about 15% of all couples worldwide, were infertile in 2010, while another unrelated study suggested that men were solely responsible for up to 30% and contribute up to 50% of cases overall.
Meanwhile, a recent analysis published in the journal?Human Reproduction Update found that sperm counts of men in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand are plunging. Researchers recorded a 52% decline in sperm concentration and a 59% decline in total sperm count over a nearly 40-year period ending in 2011.
Erma Z. Drobnis, an associate professional practice professor of reproductive medicine and fertility at the University of Missouri, Columbia, noted that most drugs are not evaluated for their effects on human male fertility before marketing. Drobnis, who was not involved in the new study, has done extensive research into sperm biology and fertility.
“There is evidence that some medications are particularly harmful to the male reproductive system, including testosterone, opioids, antidepressants, antipsychotics, immune modulators and even the over-the-counter antacid cimetidine (Tagamet),” she said. “However, prescribing providers rarely mention these adverse effects with patients when prescribing these medications.
She believes the new study, though small, is “important” because ibuprofen is among the most commonly used medications.
Though the new research indicates that ibuprofen disrupts the reproductive hormones in healthy young men, she thinks it’s possible there’s an even greater negative effect in men with low fertility. The other OTC drugs concerning for potential fathers are cimetidine and acetaminophen. She recommends that men who are planning to father a child avoid drugs for several months.
“Larger clinical trials are warranted,” she said. “This is timely work that should raise awareness of medication effects on men and potentially their offspring.”
Jégou agrees that more study is needed to answer many questions, including whether ibuprofen’s effects on male hormones are seen at low doses and whether long-term effects are reversible.
“But the alarm has been raised now,” he said. “if this serves to remind people that we are really dealing with medical drugs — not with things which are not dangerous — this would be a good thing.”
“We need to remember that it is a pharmaceutical compound that helps a lot of people worldwide,” Kristensen said. He noted, though, that of the three mild analgesics examined, ibuprofen had “the broadest endocrine-disturbing properties identified so far in men.”
In Nigeria, PSN, has also warned against self-medication and particularly misuse of Ibuprofen which could expose one to stomach ulcer.
Jelili Kilani, PSN Chairman, FCT Chapter, gave the indication in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
He condemned the rate at which people abused the medicine, saying that such uncontrolled usage could bring about body pains and other negative reactions.
The association chief said the consistent use of Ibuprofen could damage the internal body system.
“Ibuprofen is used for the treatment of mild to moderate pain, inflammation and fever caused by many and diverse diseases, and also for treating menstrual cramps.”
The chairman said that in spite of the positive effect of the drug, with regard to fast relieve of pains, if not used according to prescription it could do more harm than good to our health.
“Ibuprofen should not be taking indiscriminately because it affects the gastro intestinal system and the stomach lining, leading to stomach ulcer.
“Most times, body pains is a manifestation of illness within, and consistent taking of the medicine without medical diagnosis, you are compounding your health challenge.
“Such practice will increase cost of treatment of infirmity, and could be suicidal when detected later.
“We should desist from self-medication and seek medical advice for proper and timely intervention.
“Medicine should be used based on doctor’s prescription, to avoid collateral damage to your body system,” Mr. Kilani said.
He, however, urged the general public to desist from self-medication and consult medical doctors, when faced with any health challenge, for proper diagnosis and medication.
PalmPay has called for stronger infrastructure and better access to finance for small businesses as essential to the next phase of financial inclusion and economic growth in Nigeria.
This position was shared by Chika Nwosu, Managing Director of PalmPay Nigeria, during a panel session at Digital Pay Expo 2026, where regulators, fintech leaders, payment operators and other key ecosystem stakeholders gather to discuss the future of digital payments in Africa.
Speaking during a session focussed on advancing financial inclusion and SME growth, Nwosu said that while the micro, small, and medium enterprises remain central to economic activity, many still face real barriers around access to credit, reliable payment infrastructure, and the relevant digital tools needed to grow sustainably.
According to him, meaningful financial inclusion must go beyond onboarding more users into the formal financial rail. It must also address the structural issues that limit how small businesses participate, transact, and scale.
“SMEs contribute 40 per cent of the country’s GDP. For us in PalmPay, Financial inclusion is not just about enabling transactions. It is also about helping businesses access the tools and support they need to expand, build resilience, and create jobs.
He also highlighted the importance of digital literacy, noting that as digital tools and AI become more embedded in financial services, business owners must be equipped to use them effectively and responsibly.
For PalmPay, the future of inclusion will depend not only on innovation, but on how well the ecosystem reduces friction for small businesses and provides the infrastructure and financial support they need to grow.
Discussions at the event also pointed to the need for stronger collaboration across the ecosystem and more practical approaches to helping SMEs move from awareness to adoption of digital financial services.
PalmPay’s MD noted that unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s SMEs will require a combination of accessible finance, financial education, trusted platforms, and coordinated ecosystem support.
The World Cup 2026 kicked off on June 11 and alongside it the number of scammers attempting to exploit fan excitement has also increased. According to Kaspersky, at least 336 unique domains mimicking official World Cup resources have been detected. In addition, cybercriminals are actively exploiting growing interest in match streaming and sports betting.
Fake broadcasting schemes
Since the start of the tournament, millions of viewers worldwide have been tuning in across TVs and other devices to watch matches live. At the same time, fraudsters have been creating websites offering “online streaming” of the championship.
The scam works as follows: attackers set up fake websites that claim to provide free access to World Cup broadcasts. After clicking “Watch now,” users are prompted to register to gain access. They are then asked to pay a cryptocurrency fee for “lifetime tournament access.” The danger of this scheme lies in the potential loss of both registration data and cryptocurrency funds.
Betting traps: When the wager is already lost
Another trap targeting football fans involves fraudulent betting and match prediction platforms. For instance, a Spanish-language website was found requesting extensive personal information, including first and last name, email address, phone number and more, under the guise of account creation.
Such schemes expose users to credential theft, particularly if they reuse the same password across multiple services, as well as to potential financial loss.
“Since the start of the tournament, scammers have increasingly focused on the ways fans engage with the event online, as watching matches today requires only an Internet connection and a device.
As a result, criminal activity continues to grow, as reflected in the fraudulent websites we observe offering streaming and betting services in multiple languages. We recommend that users stick to official broadcasts to help protect their data and finances,” says Olga Altukhova, Senior Web Content Analyst at Kaspersky.
You’ve got mail: (Un)real predictions
Another attack scenario involves emails in which attackers attempt to trick users into sending money or clicking phishing links. To increase engagement, these messages often use compelling subject lines and persuasive wording.
In one observed case, fans received emails advertising football analytics services and match winner predictions. A notable feature is the sense of urgency, asking recipients to act quickly, which is one of the common indicators of a possible scam email.
In this case, users are asked to pay a $200 fee to access football analytics. While the offer targets fans interested in betting, paying for such “services” can potentially result in irreversible financial loss.
News
CredibleVoteNG Opens Free Access to all Polling Units in Nigeria after INEC Demanded N1.Bn for Register
CredibleVoteNG, a citizen-built, open-access platform is hosting precise, verified information for all 37 states (including the FCT), 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs), and 176,846 individual polling units for free.
This is coming months after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) placed a N1.5 billion price tag on requests for Nigeria’s complete polling unit register under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
But CredibleVoteNG, being promoted by two Nigerian technology enthusiasts have built a platform that provides the same information free of charge.
The platform, offers structured digital access to all 176,846 polling units across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, covering the country’s 774 local government areas and 8,809 electoral wards.
The initiative emerged against the backdrop of a public controversy that followed INEC’s October 2025 response to an FOI request by a Nigerian law firm seeking the commission’s polling unit database.
In its reply, the electoral body estimated that providing the information would cost N1,505,901,750, citing the need to print more than six million pages at N250 per page.
The response triggered widespread criticism from lawyers, civil society organisations and transparency advocates, who argued that electoral information critical to democratic participation should be readily accessible to citizens.
While the debate continued, Kelly Omobude, software developer and Uzoanya Grant, product owner, quietly worked on what would become CredibleVoteNG, a free and open-source platform designed to make electoral data available to everyone.
Accessible online through a public Application Programming Interface (API), the platform requires no registration, subscription or API key.
Developers, journalists, election observers, political parties and ordinary citizens can access the data without charge.
According to the founders, the project was inspired by the belief that credible elections depend on unrestricted access to reliable information.
“Independent observation requires independent data. If every organisation is working from the same verified, open baseline — that is the foundation for credible accountability. That is what we are trying to provide,” they said.
The platform enables users to navigate Nigeria’s electoral structure from the national level down to states, local government areas, wards and individual polling units through nine dedicated API endpoints. Information is delivered in a structured format within seconds, making it useful for both technical and non-technical users.
To broaden accessibility, the developers incorporated a Swagger-based interface that allows users with no coding experience to search and explore electoral data through a standard web browser.
Omobude, who designed the platform’s technical architecture, database infrastructure and cloud-hosting environment, said the project has been developed and maintained using personal resources since March 2023.
Grant, who led product design and user experience development, described the initiative as a civic intervention intended to bridge longstanding information gaps within Nigeria’s electoral ecosystem.
For election observers and civil society organisations, access to comprehensive polling unit data has often posed significant operational challenges.
Many monitoring groups spend weeks assembling information from multiple sources before deploying field personnel.
CredibleVoteNG seeks to eliminate that burden by providing a standardised and verified dataset that can be used simultaneously by multiple organisations.
Election monitoring experts say such access is particularly important for Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT), a globally recognised methodology used to independently verify election outcomes through polling unit-level data collection and analysis.
The platform’s creators argue that a common and publicly accessible electoral dataset can improve consistency among observer groups and strengthen confidence in election monitoring efforts.
The database may also prove valuable to journalists and media organisations, enabling them to verify polling unit distributions, scrutinise electoral claims and undertake data-driven reporting on voter access and representation.
The platform further highlights variations in polling unit distribution across the country. Lagos State has 13,325 polling units, Kano 11,222 and Kaduna 8,012, while Bayelsa has 2,244 and Ekiti 2,445.
Analysts say access to such information could encourage deeper discussions around voter accessibility, electoral logistics and resource allocation.
Political parties are also expected to benefit, as accurate ward and polling unit data are essential for deploying agents, monitoring election-day activities and identifying organisational gaps during campaigns.
Although the project has attracted limited publicity since its launch in March 2026, the founders say adoption has continued to grow through referrals and online searches.
Hosted on cloud infrastructure and verified across all states and the FCT, CredibleVoteNG is increasingly being viewed by election stakeholders as a practical contribution to transparency, civic participation and electoral accountability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As preparations intensify for another election cycle, the emergence of a citizen-built platform providing free access to one of Nigeria’s most important democratic datasets underscores the role innovation can play in advancing transparency and strengthening public trust in the electoral process.
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