Physical activity, fatness, educational level and snuff consumption as determinants of semen quality: findings of the ActiART study

Abstract

In this study, the association between physical activity and other potential determinants, objectively measured by accelerometry, was examined. Sixty-two men attending an infertility clinic participated in the study. Obese men (body mass index ≥ 30) and those with a waist circumference 102 cm or more had lower semen volume than the other men (P < 0.05). Higher values in sperm parameters were observed in participants who completed university studies and those who did not consume snuff, compared with the other participants (P < 0.05). Finally, men who spent an average number of 10 min-bouts of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity had significantly better semen quality than those who engaged in low or high numbers of bouts of activity (P < 0.05). No associations were found for sedentary or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity time when it was not sustained over 10 min, i.e. not in bouts. Men who have average levels of physical activity over sustained periods of 10 min are likely to have better semen quality than men who engage in low or high levels of such activity. Similarly, high levels of total and central adiposity, low educational level and snuff consumption are negatively related to semen quality.

Association of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, Physical Activity, and Their Combination with Semen Quality: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Nevertheless, the promotion of moderate-to-vigorous PA may improve semen parameters, sperm DNA integrity, impaired seminal markers of inflammation, and oxidative stress [45,46]. Interestingly, the impact of different intensities showed an inverted U-shape association between PA and semen quality [47,48]. Also, other studies supported this finding, suggesting poorer semen quality in sedentary [7,16,49] or highly active men [42] compared with recreationally or moderate physically active men.…”

Time-to-Pregnancy Associated With Couples’ Use of Tobacco Products

“…One small study of Swedish men seeking infertility treatment found reduced semen quality in snuff users, 15 though another study of Swedish military conscripts did not show an association between snuff use and semen parameters. 16 We did not observe an effect of male smokeless tobacco use on TTP compared with never users of tobacco; however, we did observe male smokeless tobacco users had a shorter TTP compared with cigarette users.…”

“…45,46 In light of the call for smokeless tobacco use as a harm reduction tool for smokers, increasing smokeless tobacco use among young adults in the United States, and the relatively greater use of smokeless tobacco in other countries, further investigations into the potential reproductive toxicity of smokeless tobacco are warranted. Scandinavian populations may be well suited for future work on this topic as smokeless tobacco use is common, 15 even among females, 47 and surveillance systems for reproduction (eg, semen analysis among military conscripts and national birth and health registers) are already in place. Additionally, elucidating the biological mechanisms by which tobacco products may interfere with couples' biological capacity to conceive will provide more information of the potential harms of tobacco use, both combustible and noncombustible, in couples trying to conceive.…”

“…With that caveat, azoospermia (no sperm) is more common in tobacco chewers than nonusers 11 and more common in heavier than lighter users. 12 Compared with nonusers of tobacco, chewing tobacco users in India 13,14 and snuff users in Sweden 15 have lower sperm count, concentration, motility, and normal morphology among men seeking infertility treatment. In contrast, among a voluntary sample of 242 male Swedish military conscripts, snuff use was not associated with semen parameters or reproductive hormones.…”

Exploring men’s pregnancy-planning behaviour and fertility knowledge:a survey among fathers in Sweden

“…Whether there is a relationship between snuff consumption and impaired male reproduction is still unclear, although there is evidence pointing in that direction (35). It is, however, known that smoking has negative effects on semen quality (36), and Swedish studies indicate that maternal snuff use in early pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of oral clefts in the child (37) and stillbirth (38).…”