Association between body mass index (BMI) and semen quality

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the correlation between BMI and semen quality.DesignRetrospective study.Materials and MethodsAnalysis of 45 male patients who presented for clinical evaluation in our service in 2012. Of the total surveyed, 17 presented normal BMI (BMI <25 kg / m2) and 28 patients were diagnosed with overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). Exclusion criteria were: previous treatment for infertility, use of drugs that can alter spermatogenesis, vasectomy, diagnosis of varicocele treated or not, cryptorchidism or clinical/surgical problems with risk for fertility, smoking and sexually transmitted diseases. The seminal parameters analyzed were: ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, percentage of progressive motile spermatozoa, morphology and BMI. For statistical analysis we used the Student's t test followed by Mann-Whitney test.ResultsNo difference was found between the analyzed parameters between the groups with BMI < 25 kg/m2 or BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, except BMI (22.4 vs. 28.7 - p <0.001). However there was a trend to decreased sperm concentration (55.3 M/mL vs. 26.4 M/mL - p = 0.06) and increased ejaculate volume (2.9 mL vs. 4.2 mL - p = 0.06) in patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2. The mean values of motility (53% vs. 40%) and morphology (4% vs. 3%) also are decreased in this group compared to the group with BMI <25 kg/m2. Furthermore, it was found that the group with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, had a higher percentage of patients with semen parameters below the normal standards by the World Health Organization, compared to the group with BMI < 25 kg/m2 (concentration < 15 M/m: 39% vs. 24%; motility < 32%: 39% vs. 12%; morphology < 4%: 73% vs. 53%).ConclusionThese results indicate that BMI may alter sperm quality, resulting in low sperm concentration, reduced motility and altered morphology. Suggest to increase the sample size to confirm these data. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the correlation between BMI and semen quality. The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between BMI and semen quality. DesignRetrospective study. Retrospective study. Materials and MethodsAnalysis of 45 male patients who presented for clinical evaluation in our service in 2012. Of the total surveyed, 17 presented normal BMI (BMI <25 kg / m2) and 28 patients were diagnosed with overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). Exclusion criteria were: previous treatment for infertility, use of drugs that can alter spermatogenesis, vasectomy, diagnosis of varicocele treated or not, cryptorchidism or clinical/surgical problems with risk for fertility, smoking and sexually transmitted diseases. The seminal parameters analyzed were: ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, percentage of progressive motile spermatozoa, morphology and BMI. For statistical analysis we used the Student's t test followed by Mann-Whitney test. Analysis of 45 male patients who presented for clinical evaluation in our service in 2012. Of the total surveyed, 17 presented normal BMI (BMI <25 kg / m2) and 28 patients were diagnosed with overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). Exclusion criteria were: previous treatment for infertility, use of drugs that can alter spermatogenesis, vasectomy, diagnosis of varicocele treated or not, cryptorchidism or clinical/surgical problems with risk for fertility, smoking and sexually transmitted diseases. The seminal parameters analyzed were: ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, percentage of progressive motile spermatozoa, morphology and BMI. For statistical analysis we used the Student's t test followed by Mann-Whitney test. ResultsNo difference was found between the analyzed parameters between the groups with BMI < 25 kg/m2 or BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, except BMI (22.4 vs. 28.7 - p <0.001). However there was a trend to decreased sperm concentration (55.3 M/mL vs. 26.4 M/mL - p = 0.06) and increased ejaculate volume (2.9 mL vs. 4.2 mL - p = 0.06) in patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2. The mean values of motility (53% vs. 40%) and morphology (4% vs. 3%) also are decreased in this group compared to the group with BMI <25 kg/m2. Furthermore, it was found that the group with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, had a higher percentage of patients with semen parameters below the normal standards by the World Health Organization, compared to the group with BMI < 25 kg/m2 (concentration < 15 M/m: 39% vs. 24%; motility < 32%: 39% vs. 12%; morphology < 4%: 73% vs. 53%). No difference was found between the analyzed parameters between the groups with BMI < 25 kg/m2 or BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, except BMI (22.4 vs. 28.7 - p <0.001). However there was a trend to decreased sperm concentration (55.3 M/mL vs. 26.4 M/mL - p = 0.06) and increased ejaculate volume (2.9 mL vs. 4.2 mL - p = 0.06) in patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2. The mean values of motility (53% vs. 40%) and morphology (4% vs. 3%) also are decreased in this group compared to the group with BMI <25 kg/m2. Furthermore, it was found that the group with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, had a higher percentage of patients with semen parameters below the normal standards by the World Health Organization, compared to the group with BMI < 25 kg/m2 (concentration < 15 M/m: 39% vs. 24%; motility < 32%: 39% vs. 12%; morphology < 4%: 73% vs. 53%). ConclusionThese results indicate that BMI may alter sperm quality, resulting in low sperm concentration, reduced motility and altered morphology. Suggest to increase the sample size to confirm these data. These results indicate that BMI may alter sperm quality, resulting in low sperm concentration, reduced motility and altered morphology. Suggest to increase the sample size to confirm these data.