The effect of obesity on sperm disorders and male infertility

Abstract

The results of several studies point to an increased likelihood of abnormal semen parameters among overweight men, and an elevated risk for subfertility among couples in which the male partner is obese. Obesity is, therefore, associated with a higher incidence of male factor infertility. Several mechanisms might account for the effect of obesity on male infertility, both directly and indirectly, by inducing sleep apnea, alterations in hormonal profiles (reduced inhibin B and androgen levels accompanied by elevated estrogen levels) and increased scrotal temperatures, ultimately manifesting as impaired semen parameters (decreased total sperm count, concentration and motility; increased DNA fragmentation index). Neither the reversibility of obesity-associated male infertility with weight loss nor effective therapeutic interventions have been studied in-depth. The increasing prevalence of obesity calls for greater clinical awareness of its effects on fertility, better understanding of underlying mechanisms, and exploration into avenues of treatment.

Nutritional modifications in male infertility: a systematic review covering 2 decades

“…47 Obesity, a consequence of high caloric load induced by a high-energy diet, is associated with increased number and size of adipocytes, and thus many proposed mechanisms for the role of obesity in male infertility focus on the abnormal level of adiposederived hormones and adipokines. 85 It has been reported that obese men seeking infertility treatments show a decreased ratio of testosterone to estrogen. 86 This dysregulation is explained by the increased activity of aromatase cytochrome P450 enzyme, which is highly expressed in white adipose tissue.…”

The actors of human implantation: gametes, embryo and endometrium

“…Occupational exposure of testicles to heat also has deleterious effects on male fertility (Mieusset et al, 1987;Paul et al, 2008) as well as sporadic exposure (Rockett et al, 2001). The effects of obesity on semen quality are marked not only on the concentration of sperm, but also on DNA fragmentation (Kort et al, 2006), probably as a result of a high scrotal temperature and of an important hormonal disruption (Du Plessis et al, 2010). Mobile phone port to the belt, especially when using a hands-free kit (the emission of electromagnetic waves is more important during a call) could have an adverse effect on male fertility (Desai et al, 2009).…”

Influence of Male Obesity on Fertility

“…Th erefore, it seems that dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis as a consequence of male obesity might further explain the increased risks of sperm disorders and infertility 7,[29][30][31] . Another key hormone produced by white adipose tissue is leptin the production of which increases with the amount of body fat and which plays a pivotal role in regulating the energy intake and expenditure.…”