System Maintenance Notice

Please note that maintenance work is scheduled between 4 AM and 5 AM - CET. During this time, you may experience reduced performance. Thanks for your patience.

Publications

Journal Article Ppublish 123 citations

PubMed: 25225071 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.07.1212

High body mass index has a deleterious effect on semen parameters except morphology: results from a large cohort study.

Fertil Steril 102(5):1268-73

Authors: Stéphanie Belloc, Martine Cohen-Bacrie, Edouard Amar, Vincent Izard, Moncef Benkhalifa, Alain Dalléac, Jacques de Mouzon

Affiliations

  • Laboratoire Eylau Unilabs, Paris, France.
  • Clinique de la Muette, Paris, France.
  • Clinique Pierre Chérest, Neuilly sur Seine, France.
  • Service de Biologie de la Reproduction et Cytogénétique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Amiens, France.
  • INSERM, Université Paris Descartes, Faculté de Médecine, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Ouest, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Cochin Port Royal, Service de Gynécologie Obstétrique II et Médecine de la Reproduction, Paris, France.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the influence of body mass index (BMI) on semen characteristics.

DESIGN

Cohort study.

SETTING

Single private andrology laboratory.

PATIENT(S)

All patients (n=10,665) consulting for a semen analysis from October 9, 2010, to October 8, 2011. When analyses were repeated on the same patient, only the first was included.

INTERVENTION(S)

Recording of self-reported weight and height and of semen analysis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

All parameters of standard semen analysis: pH, volume, sperm concentration per mL, total sperm count per ejaculate, motility (%) within 1 hour after ejaculation (overall and progressive), viability (%), and normal sperm morphology (%). Parametric and nonparametric statistical methods were applied, and results are given either with mean±SD, or 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles.

RESULT(S)

Semen volume decreased from 3.3±1.6 to 2.7±1.6 mL when BMI increased from normal (20-25 kg/m2) to extreme obesity (>40 kg/m2). The same was true for semen concentration (56.4±54.9 to 39.4±51.0 million/mL), total sperm count (171±170 to 92±95 million), and progressive motility (36.9±16.8% to 34.7±17.1%). The percentage of cases with azoospermia and cryptozoospermia increased from 1.9% to 9.1% and from 4.7% to 15.2%, respectively. The other semen characteristics were not affected. Multivariate models including age and abstinence duration confirmed these results.

CONCLUSION(S)

In this study, on a large patient sample size, increased BMI was associated with decreased semen quality, affecting volume, concentration, and motility. The percentage of normal forms was not decreased.

MeSH

Infertility, Fertility, Cohort Studies, Semen Analysis, Sperm Count, Spermatozoa, Obesity, Body Mass Index

Cited by