Obesity 'affects sperm quality'
Wednesday, 09 Jul 2008 08:20
Obese men should lose weight before trying to conceive, doctor says
Health In Focus
Another nail in the coffin for smokers? Catch out exclusive webchat to find out... Full Story
Obese men hoping to conceive with their partner may have more luck if they lose weight first, a scientist advised today.
Dr A Ghivath Shaveb from the University of Aberdeen said weight loss could help as his research found that men with a higher body mass index (BMI) have less semen and more sperm abnormalities.
Previous studies have linked male obesity to increased DNA damage in sperm, which can be associated with reduced fertility.
For the latest research, Dr Shaveb and colleagues analysed the results of seminal fluid analysis in 5,316 men attending the Aberdeen Fertility Centre with their partners regarding difficulties in conceiving.
They looked for a link between BMI and sperm quality, taking into account other characteristics that can affect sperm, such as smoking and age.
Men with the optimal BMI were found to have higher levels of normal sperm and higher semen volume than those in the other groups.
"Our findings were quite independent of any other factors and seem to suggest that men who are trying for a baby with their partners should first try to achieve an ideal body weight. This is in addition to the benefit of a healthy BMI for their general well-being," Dr Shaveb told the annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.
"Adopting a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet and regular exercise will, in the vast majority of cases, lead to a normal BMI.
"We are pleased to be able to add improved semen quality to the long list of benefits that we know are the result of an optimal body weight."