Aim: To determine the effect of body mass index (BMI) on semen parameters in men with subfertility.
Methodology: The present study was a cross-sectional study conducted from 1st January 2021 to 30th June 2021. All subfertile couples having male factor subfertility attending the subfertility clinic were asked to participate. The weight and height of all men were recorded, and they were asked to submit a semen sample to the reference lab. The results of the semen analysis conducted as part of an initial assessment were compared with the following World Health Organization (WHO) reference values.
Results: We included 347 males in the analysis. The mean age of the participant was 31.06 ± 4.89 years, and the mean duration of subfertility was 3.58 ± 1.62 years. Of these, 60.5% had primary subfertility. There were 44.4% of men with normal BMI and 9.8% were underweight. In our study population, 41.5% of men were overweight, and 4.3% were obese. When stratified according to BMI, only motility was significantly affected by BMI (p = 0.044).
Conclusion: A high BMI is associated with reduced motility of sperm in semen samples. Obese men are more likely to have abnormal total motile sperm count than men with normal BMI. Larger studies are needed to assess the relationship between semen quality and BMI.
Ma J, Wu L, Zhou Y, et al. Association between BMI and semen quality: an observational study of 3966 sperm donors. Hum Reprod 2018;34(1):155–162. DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dey328
MacDonald AA, Herbison GP, Showell M, et al. The impact of BMI on semen parameters and reproductive hormones in human males: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Hum Reprod Update 2010;16(3):293–311. DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmp047
Eisenberg ML, Kim S, Chen Z, et al. The relationship between male BMI and waist circumference on semen quality: data from the LIFE study. Hum Reprod 2014;29(2):193–200. DOI: 10.1093/humrep/det428
Aggerholm AS, Thulstrup AM, Toft G, et al. Is overweight a risk factor for reduced semen quality and altered serum sex hormone profile? Fertil Steril 2008;90(3):619–626. DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.07.1292
Håkonsen LB, Thulstrup AM, Aggerholm AS, et al. Does weight loss improve semen quality and reproductive hormones? Results from a cohort of severely obese men. Reprod Health 2011;8:24. DOI: 10.1186/1742-4755-8-24
Sallmén M, Sandler DP, Hoppin JA, et al. Reduced fertility among overweight and obese men. Epidemiology 2006;17(5):520–523. DOI: 10.1097/01.ede.0000229953.76862.e5
World Health Organization. Obesity and Overweight. Fact Sheet No. 311. [updated 2013 Mar].
WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination of Human Semen and Sperm-cervical Mucus Interaction. 4th ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1999.
Sherin A. Obesity: how to prevent Pakistani people from getting heavier? Khyber Med Univ J 2013;5(2):59–60.
Niederberger C. Re: the relationship between male BMI and waist circumference on semen quality: data from the LIFE study. J Urol 2014.
Tsao CW, Liu CY, Chou YC, et al. Exploration of the association between obesity and semen quality in a 7630 male population. PLoS One 2015;10(3):e0119458. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119458
Ramaraju GA, Teppala S, Prathigudupu K, et al. Association between obesity and sperm quality. Andrologia 2018;50(3):e12888. DOI: 10.1111/and.12888
Alshahrani S, Ahmed AF, Gabr AH, et al. The impact of BMI on semen parameters in infertile men. Andrologia 2016;48(10):1125–1129. DOI: 10.1111/and.12549
Rufus O, James O, Michael A. Male obesity and semen quality: any association? Int J Reprod Biomed 2018;16(4):285–290. DOI: 10.29252/ijrm.16.4.285
Hofny ER, Ali ME, Abdel-Hafez HZ, et al. Semen parameters and hormonal profile in obese fertile and infertile males. Fertil Steril 2010;94(2):581–584. DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.03.085
Dandona P, Aljada A, Chaudhuri A, et al. Metabolic syndrome: a comprehensive perspective based on interactions between obesity, diabetes, and inflammation. Circulation 2005;111(11):1448–1454. DOI: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000158483.13093.9D
Davi G, Falco A. Oxidant stress, inflammation and atherogenesis. Lupus 2005;14(9):760–764. DOI: 10.1191/0961203305lu2216oa
Ebisch IM, Thomas CM, Wetzels AM, et al. Review of the role of the plasminogen activator system and vascular endothelial growth factor in subfertility. Fertil Steril 2008;90(6):2340–2350. DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.10.026
Bakos HW, Mitchell M, Setchell BP, et al. The effect of paternal diet-induced obesity on sperm function and fertilization in a mouse model. Int J Androl 2011;34(5 Pt 1):402–1410. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.2010.01092.x
Wang EY, Huang Y, Du QY, et al. BMI effects sperm quality: a retrospective study in Northern China. Asian J Androl 2017;19(2):234–237. DOI: 10.4103/1008-682X.169996