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Weight may affect male fertility

Being either too thin or too heavy can lower a man's sperm count, in some cases enough to impair fertility.

Weight may affect male fertility

Being either too thin or too heavy can lower a man's sperm count, in some cases, enough to impair fertility. Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark studied nearly 1,600 young men and found that those with either a low or high body mass index (BMI) had differences in reproductive hormones, as well as lower sperm counts than normal-weight men. Body weight has already been shown to affect a woman's ability to conceive. Obese women, for example, have a heightened risk of menstrual irregularities and infertility. To see whether BMI - a measure of weight in relation to height - may be related to male fertility, the researchers studied young men who were undergoing physicals for potential military service. They found that, on average, those with a low BMI - defined as below 20 - had a 36 percent lower sperm count than men with a normal BMI. Overweight men - those with a BMI over 25 - had a 24 percent lower sperm count compared with average-weight men. In addition, the men's testosterone levels decreased as BMI increased, as did certain other reproductive hormones. According to the researchers, it may be such hormonal effects of a high BMI that explain the poorer semen quality they found in overweight men. It is also possible, that the types of lifestyles that promote extremes in weight may explain the link between BMI and semen quality. Men in the study were asked about their smoking and drinking habits, but factors such as lack of exercise and poor diet may also be important. The researchers said that it is not yet known whether maintaining a normal weight can help a man's chances of fathering children.
Fertility & Sterility,
October 2004
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