I read on the internet that taking painkillers such as Celebrex (celecoxib) can affect male fertility by affecting testosterone. Is this why my husband and I are having more difficulty conceiving right now?

Very few drugs have been shown to reduce fertility by decreasing testosterone production in men. According to my research, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and Celebrex (celecoxib) are not among them. For your information, in the family of drugs taken for pain relief, only opiates (e.g. morphine/Statex, codeine, hydromorphone/Dilaudid, etc.) have been shown to markedly decrease the production of testosterone "precursors" when taken over a long period of time and could therefore affect male fertility.

However, you should know that although it seems very unlikely, it is impossible at this time to exclude beyond any doubt the existence of a link between celecoxib use and the abnormally long conception time that you feel. However, before you decide to stop taking this drug, here are some points that I recommend you consider:

1. Relief of your partner's pain is the primary goal of the medication. In fact, pain that is not adequately relieved may have an even more detrimental effect on fertility than taking the analgesic. Sleep disturbances, poorer nutrition and increased stress levels are some of the results of inadequately relieved pain and all have the potential to reduce fertility.

2. If it is possible for your spouse, he could try to relieve some of his pain by also taking acetaminophen (Tylenol), thus trying to reduce the consumption of celecoxib, keeping in mind the importance of point 1 above. I invite him to consult a pharmacist so that together they can find the best dosage for his situation.

3. Together, follow the few tips described in a previous answer (https://questionpourunpharmacien.com/question/est-ce-quil-existe-un-produit-eprouve-disponible-en-pharmacie-qui-augmente-la-fertilite/), in order to "put all the chances on your side".

4. Finally, don't be alarmed just yet about the delay in conception that you consider abnormal. As described in a previous answer (https://questionpourunpharmacien.com/question/apres-combien-de-temps-devrais-je-minquieter-si-je-ne-suis-pas-capable-de-tomber-enceinte/), about 1 in 5 couples will still not be able to conceive after 6 months and for most this is quite normal. It is usually after one year of unsuccessful attempts that a couple should go to the doctor. In your situation, if your partner is still taking celecoxib, this is the time to consider switching to another medication.

References: Celebrex product monographs, UpToDate, Pubmed.