Rohith Nagashree R¹,
Praveena M²,

¹Professor,
Head of the Department,
²2Final year PG,
Department of Physiology,
PSG Institute of Medical
Science & Research,
Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India

Abstract

• Background: Obesity is a non-communicable disease and has grown to pandemic in recent years in western as well as in developing countries. It should be considered as an etiology of male infertility, as there is an increase in incidence of overweight and obesity in men of reproductive age.
• Aim: To study the effect of obesity on semen parameters.
• Materials and Methods: This was a cross sectional study, which involved 75 male participants, aged between 20 to 50 years. Paternal height and weight, life style habits and semen analysis data were collected from medical records of fertility department. Men were divided into three groups based on their body mass index (BMI). Group1 (n = 25)- Normal (18.5 -24.99 kg/m2), Group 2(n = 25) – Overweight (25.0 -29.99 kg/m2), Group 3 (n = 25)- Obese (BMI>30 kg/m2).Semen parameters were analysed by applying WHO 2010 criteria as normal cut off values. The data obtained was analysed using logistic regression.
• Results: This study showed statistically significant association between obesity and abnormal sperm concentration, low sperm motility, low sperm vitality with an adjusted odds ratio of 26.36 (3.05 –227.74),14.34 (1.18–174.00),8.59 (2.34 – 31.49) respectively after adjusting for age, smoking habits, intake of alcohol and physical activity.
• Conclusion: This study finding strongly indicates that obesity has an association with semen parameters. In future, it is needed to work in that direction to reduce such factors, which can affect the fertility of males.

Keywords: Body mass index (BMI), Male infertility, Obesity, Semen parameters