Influence of Male Body Mass Index on Sperm Quality and In Vitro Fertilization Success Rates

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Andrology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Rising global obesity rates pose a significant threat to male reproductive health and fertility.
• Understanding the molecular mechanisms linking male obesity to impaired sperm function is crucial for effective infertility treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of male Body Mass Index (BMI) on sperm quality, in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes, and embryo development.
• To explore the regulatory roles of circMYH9, miR-133a-3p, and CXCR4 in male infertility associated with obesity.

Main Methods:

• Recruitment of 57 men undergoing IVF, categorized by BMI (normal, overweight, obese).
• Systematic comparison of sperm parameters, fertilization rates, embryo development, and pregnancy outcomes across BMI groups.
• Quantification of circMYH9, miR-133a-3p, and CXCR4 expression in sperm and statistical analysis of correlations.

Main Results:

• Higher BMI correlated with reduced sperm concentration, count, motility, and lower clinical pregnancy rates in IVF.
• Increased circMYH9 and CXCR4 expression positively correlated with fertilization and high-quality embryo formation.
• Elevated miR-133a-3p expression showed negative correlations with fertilization and embryo quality; BMI negatively correlated with circMYH9/CXCR4 and positively with miR-133a-3p.

Conclusions:

• Elevated male BMI adversely affects sperm quality and IVF outcomes, potentially via the circMYH9/miR-133a-3p/CXCR4 pathway.
• Targeted weight management and molecular interventions show promise for improving reproductive outcomes in obese men.