In a nutshell
In this article, medical doctors summarized current research and clinical trials regarding obesity and infertility.
Some background
Infertility, or the inability to conceive, affects 5-15% of couples worldwide. Many studies suggest that obesity is linked to infertility in men. A body mass index (BMI; a measure of the amount of muscle, fat and bone) above 30 is considered to be obese. Specifically, obese men are at increased risk of suffering from low sperm production, reduced testosterone (a hormone needed to produce sperm), reduced ability to maintain an erection, and poor sex drive.
Methods & findings
The authors discussed the pros and cons of various treatments for obesity-related infertility. The following conclusions and suggestions were made:
1. Obese men have low testosterone. However, testosterone-enhancing drugs are more likely to lower fertility than improve it. There are also concerns about heart and bone health when taking these drugs.
2. Obesity lowers male sperm count and quality. Obese men have a 28% greater chance of having a low sperm count compared to men with normal weight.
3. In couples undergoing a fertility treatment called Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI; injection of sperm from the male partner directly into the egg in the female partner), the chances of a live birth was 84% lower for obese men compared to normal weight men.
4. While it may seem logical that weight loss would improve fertility, this is still unclear. However, weight loss by both dieting and stomach surgery has been shown to naturally increase testosterone and improve ability to maintain an erection in some studies.
The bottom line
The authors conclude that male obesity is linked to infertility, and that treatments should only be prescribed by doctors who are very specialized in the area of obesity and fertility.
The fine print
Several clinical trials are examining new ways to treat obese men with low testosterone; therefore, testosterone-enhancing drugs may be beneficial in the future.
What’s next?
If you think your weight is affecting your fertility, please discuss weight loss options with your doctor.
Published By :
Clinical Endocrinology
Date :
Aug 19, 2014
