A recent study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility, The Official Journal of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine on July 29, yesterday confirmed that obese men have a tendency to have lower sperm counts when compared with men with normal weight. This corresponds with previous studies which state that men with obesity tend to have lower sperm count, sperm quality is also lower. In obese men, the sperm has a slower mobility and motility is less well when compared with men who are not obese. The relationship between obesity and sperm quality is still not clear. However, the researchers suspect this is related to changes in levels of testosterone and other reproductive hormones that occur in men with obesity. In this study alone, hormone levels are not influenced by body mass index, but by age.
Age Factor
Age is an important factor to consider in the link between obesity and sperm quality. Men who were older with a body fat composition are also larger which tend to have lower sperm quality than younger men. Research conducted by Dr. Uwe Paasch and his friends, from the University of Leipzig in Germany involved 2157 men between the ages of 20 to 30 years. The results of these studies indicate that, at the same age group, men with obesity in general have a lower sperm count than men with normal weight. In previous research, dr. Uwe Paasch and his team of researchers found that high body fat composition in men associated with changes of the protein required for sperm function and survive.
Is there a relationship Against Fertility (fertility) In Men with Obesity?
Dr. Uwe Paasch, who is the lead researcher, said the study regarding obesity and fertility of a man still should be continued. This is because, the difference in sperm count between obese men with men of normal weight is not the only factor affecting fertility (fertility). Overall, the obese man’s sperm count is lower than in men of normal weight. However, it is still within the normal range, i.e. between 20-150 million per milliliter of semen. Nevertheless, the results of this study, needs to be a motivation for men to maintain weight within the normal range.
