Correlation between body mass index and semen quality in male infertility patients

The question of whether body mass index (BMI) affects semen quality and male fertility is controversial. The purpose of this research was to determine whether there is a correlation between BMI and semen analysis parameters.

A total of 617 male infertility patients were recruited and separated into 3 groups according to BMI values as follows: normal weight group (n = 334), overweight group (n = 220), and obese group (n = 63). Height and weight were measured and a routine semen analysis was performed for all patients.

Significant differences existed in BMI, age, and sperm motility (progressive motility) among the 3 groups. BMI and abstinence period were negatively correlated with sperm motility (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01), although they did not correlate with semen volume, total sperm number, concentration, and rate of sperm with normal morphology (P > 0.05). Abstinence, BMI, and age had a linear correlation with sperm motility (P < 0.01) in that order of influence.

Sperm motility, an important semen parameter with respect to male fertility, is reduced in men with increased BMI, and BMI is one of the risk factors that influence semen quality.