Is There a Correlation Between Impaired Sperm Quality and Overweight/Obesity?: A Review

Abstract

Obesity is associated with significant disturbance in the hormonal status that can affect the reproductive system. In recent decades, an increasing interest in related to the association between high BMI levels, obesity and decreased sperm quality, which could also lead to a decrease in male reproductive potential. The aim of the present work is to identify the basic mechanisms of impaired sperm quality due to overweight and obesity. Sedentary lifestyle and work, as well as age of men are defined as possible ways to elevated BMI levels. Both inflammation and oxidative stress (as related pathophysiological processes) are considered as basic mechanisms, which could be found in the pathogenesis of male infertility caused by high BMI levels and obesity.