The impact of male overweight on semen quality and outcome of assisted reproduction

Abstract

It is well-documented that male overweight and obesity causes endocrine disorders that might diminish the male reproductive capacity; however, reports have been conflicting regarding the influence of male body mass index (BMI) on semen quality and the outcome of assisted reproductive technology (ART). The aim of this study was to investigate whether increased male BMI affects sperm quality and the outcome of assisted reproduction in couples with an overweight or obese man and a non-obese partner. Data was prospectively collected from 612 infertile couples undergoing ART at a Danish fertility center. Self-reported information on paternal height and weight were recorded and BMI was calculated. The men were divided into four BMI categories: underweight BMI < 20 kg m−2, normal BMI 20–24.9 kg m−2, overweight BMI 25–29.9 kg m−2 and obese BMI > 30 kg m−2. Conventional semen analysis was performed according to the World Health Organization guideline and sperm DNA integrity was analyzed by the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA). No statistically significant effect of male BMI was seen on conventional semen parameters (sperm concentration, total sperm count, seminal volume and motility) or on SCSA-results. Furthermore, the outcome of ART regarding fertilization rate, number of good quality embryos (GQE), implantation and pregnancy outcome was not influenced by the increasing male BMI.

Male Infertility; Evidences, Risk Factors, Causes, Diagnosis and Management in Human

“…The effect of BMI on sperm parameters has been apparently investigated in several scientific studies which document that prevalence of azoospermia or oligozoospermia were associated with an increased overweight and obesity [109]. Our previous investigation about BMI and sperm function also clarify that sperm function with sperm concentration, motility and vitality shows a significant and negative relationship with body mass index (BMI); In contradictory to Thomsen et al [110] investigation, our results shows a significant declination in sperm concentration, motility and vitality in overweight and obese male as compared to normal male. However, sperm morphology is least affected with elevated BMI [111].…”

Obesity and reproduction: a committee opinion

“…Moreover, increased abdominal adiposity in men of subfertile couples has been associated with reduced sperm count, concentration, and motility (90). Evidence, however, varies as to whether male obesity alters sperm function (98), increases sperm DNA damage (91,(99)(100)(101)(102)(103), decreases sperm mitochondrial activity (101,102), induces seminal oxidative stress (104), impairs blastocyst development (85), reduces pregnancy outcome, or increases miscarriage following assisted reproduction (85,87,91,98,(105)(106)(107)(108). These discrepancies likely represent differences in data acquisition, study populations, patient lifestyles, and comorbidities (98).…”

“…Obesity in men is associated with an increased incidence of oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia in some (84)(85)(86)(87)(88)(89)(90), but not all (91)(92)(93)(94)(95)(96)(97), studies. Moreover, increased abdominal adiposity in men of subfertile couples has been associated with reduced sperm count, concentration, and motility (90).…”

The impact of male overweight on semen quality and outcome of assisted reproduction

“…However, it is plausible that in younger males obesity may have a less dramatic negative impact on endocrine and fertility parameters than in older men. This may partly explain some of the inconsistent results in the literature cited by Thomsen et al 3. Indeed, the mean male age in Keltz et al 5.…”

“…Even more debatable is the effect of male obesity in assisted reproduction. In the manuscript, “the impact of male overweight on semen quality and outcome of assisted reproduction” published in Asian Journal of Andrology , Thomsen et al 3. investigated the effect of male obesity on fertilization outcomes in intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) programs further contributes to the increasing body of evidence in this field.…”