The relationship between body mass index and semen quality and sex hormones among infertile men

Abstract

Obesity decreases fertility in women. There are some reports in case of semen quality disorder in men with increasing weight. With regard to the effect of weight gain in decreasing fertility we decided to investigate the relation of body mass index with semen parameters and sex hormones. We grouped 550 infertile men between 20-45 years old based on calculated BMI values (normal, 19 to 24 kg/m2, overweight, 24/1 to 29, obese > 29/1). Clinical examinations and BMI calculation by measuring weight and height, semen analysis, and blood serology were done for all patients. There were significant differences between semen parameters and BMI in three groups. Body mass index was negatively correlated with total sperm count, motility and morphology. In comparison between sex hormones with sperm count positive meaningful statistical relation with LH, FSH and estradiol and negative meaningful statistical relation with testosterone were observed. With regard to these results we concluded that body mass index more than 24 had reverse relation with sperm count. Therefore, we suggest to decrease weight and prescribe a diet are important in men with low fertility due to semen quality disorder.