Obesity and male fertility

Obesity and male fertility

The toxicity of obesity. Read how obesity ruins fertility in men.

Kshiti Biswas
Kshiti Biswas
December 13, 2022
Male Infertility
5 mins

Obesity risks your health in multiple ways, one of which is being a risk factor for reduced fertility. 

Men, if you are obese, you may have lower sperm counts and motility, an increase in impotence, and poorer semen quality. Obesity-mediated impairment in semen parameters includes several factors: physical, increased scrotal temperature due to heavy fatty tissue deposits, and systemic inflammation and oxidative stress (OS) initiated by various adipose tissue-derived pro-inflammatory mediators. Obesity, via its multifaceted mechanisms, may severely disrupt sperm functions. Paternal obesity reportedly has significant adverse effects on the outcome of assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) and the overall health of the offspring.

Obesity has an effect on spermatogenesis

which is the process of producing sperm. The quality and quantity of sperm production are affected by obesity. Sperm production is affected by testosterone levels, which are reduced in obese men. Obesity has been associated with a decline in sperm count and testosterone levels in men.

Obesity has an effect on the occurrence of Oxidative stress. 

Oxidative stress is one of the main causes of obesity-induced infertility. In obese people, their body tissues and organs are more prone to oxidative damage. Those who were obese were more likely to have low sperm counts than those who were not obese or overweight. They also found that obesity was associated with higher levels of oxidative stress — damage caused by free radicals in the body — which can reduce male fertility by causing DNA damage and apoptosis (cell death).

Obesity has a direct effect on sperm cell damage

which can lead to a reduced chance of conception and therefore infertility. The main reason for this is that when you are obese, your body produces higher levels of male hormones that can cause abnormal growth and development in the testes. If you are obese, your levels of testosterone will decrease considerably and may cause problems with sperm production and quality.

Obesity has an effect on reduction in sperm motility, viability and causes a decrease in the testicular function

With obesity, the testicles are in a state of chronic hormonal imbalance which leads to decreased testosterone levels and impotence.

When there is debate over the extent of obesity's importance in contributing to male infertility, but it should not be ignored as a factor. Men need to stay healthy just like women, and there are numerous ways both men and women can prevent or reduce obesity levels. From eating healthier, getting more sleep, and exercising regularly, there are a multitude of things men can do to ensure they're at their peak fertility potential. Add some healthy eating habits and most importantly, exercise to your life. People who are obese or overweight should do whatever it takes to lower the extra pounds. It's a hard task that most people fail in but those who take it seriously will reap the rewards in the end, both in physical and sexual health. 

References:

On Social Media

Unlock Your Unique Journey to Parenthood

Consult with us and find out how personalised IVF treatment plans at Jananam can enhance your chances of parenthood.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Jananam Fertility has developed all of its medical services, procedures, patient care systems, and infrastructure with the patient in mind. We have the best success rates (pregnancies and live births) while maintaining the strictest safety requirements.

Welcome to Jananam

Nice to meet you! If you have any question about our services or need to book an appointment, we're a click away!

Chat with us
jananam whatsapp chatjananam close chat

What our patients say...

jananam google reviewsjananam google reviews