Diminished paternity and gonadal function with increasing obesity in men

• Published in: Fertility and sterility Vol. 90; no. 2; pp. 346 - 351
• Main Authors: Pauli, Eric M., M.D, Legro, Richard S., M.D, Demers, Laurence M., Ph.D, Kunselman, Allen R., M.A, Dodson, William C., M.D, Lee, Peter A., M.D., Ph.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.08.2008; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; body fat distribution; Body Mass Index; Estradiol - blood; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Hypogonadism - etiology; Hypogonadism - physiopathology; Infertility, Male - etiology; Infertility, Male - physiopathology; inhibin B; Inhibins - blood; Internal Medicine; Male; Male infertility; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Middle Aged; Obesity; Obesity - complications; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Physical Examination; semen; Semen - physiology; Skinfold Thickness; Sperm Motility; Sterility. Assisted procreation; Testosterone - blood; semen; body fat distribution; inhibin B; Male infertility; Human; Obesity; Adipose tissue; Semen; Gynecology; Nutrition disorder; Inhibin; Male; Paternity; Obstetrics; Distribution; Adult; Male sterility; Male genital diseases; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0015-0282; 1556-5653
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.06.046

Objective To examine the relationship of male obesity and reproductive function. Design Observational study. Setting Academic medical center. Patient(s) Eighty-seven adult men, body mass index (BMI) range from 16.1 to 47.0 kg/m2 (mean = 29.3 kg/m2 ; SD = 6.5 kg/m2 ). Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Reproductive history, physical examination, inhibin B, FSH, LH, T, and unbound T levels, and semen analysis. Result(s) Body mass index was negatively correlated with testosterone ( r = −0.38), FSH ( r = −0.22), and inhibin B levels ( r = −0.21) and was positively correlated with E2 levels ( r = 0.34). Testosterone also negatively correlated with skinfold thickness ( r = −0.30). There was no correlation of BMI or skinfold thickness with semen analysis parameters (sperm density, volume, motility, or morphology). Inhibin B level correlated significantly with sperm motility ( r = 0.23). Men with paternity had lower BMIs (28.0 kg/m2 vs. 31.6 kg/m2 ) and lower skinfold thickness (24.7 mm vs. 34.1 mm) than men without. Conclusion(s) Obesity is an infertility factor in otherwise normal men. Obese men demonstrate a relative hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Reduced inhibin B levels and diminished paternity suggest compromised reproductive capacity in this population.