The link between chronic musculoskeletal pain and sperm quality in overweight orthopedic patients

Abstract

Abstract Aims The association between low fertility potential and an overweight is well recognized. In addition, a link between pain and overweight condition has been identified. However, it is not known whether overweight pain patients present any alterations in fertility potentials. Hence, the current study provided a profounder vision into the possible relation between an overweight condition, chronic musculoskeletal pain, and fertility potential in overweight male patients. Methods This “observational study” was based on 10 overweight chronic pain patients (OP and 10 healthy matched controls (OC) from the referrals to the orthopedic department at Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. The study was approved by the regional Ethics Committee of the Northern Jutland, Denmark and conducted from June 2014 to December 2015. Semen samples were obtained from all participants and assessed for sperm concentration, motility, and kinematic parameters with the Sperm Class Analyzer (SCA®, Spain). Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were also measured by a handheld pressure algometer in 16 pre-defined points of the subjects in both groups. Results The OP group demonstrated a decline in PPT values compared to the (OC); however, difference between the two was insignificant. But, the OP group showed a lower percentage of static and non-progressive motile sperm (P < 0.05). The sperm kinematic parameters (progressive motility, VCL, VSL, VAP and BCF) also demonstrated a lower trend in OP group in comparison with the controls. Conclusions This study presented that sperm quality declines in overweight chronic pain patients. Since the control group consisted of pain free overweight individuals, we propose that chronic musculoskeletal pain could potentially affect sperm quality, distinct from what an overweight alone does to the male fertility potential. However, further investigation in overweight chronic pain patients of different types is required before a general conclusion can be made. In addition, mechanisms underlying such effects need further clarification.