Paternal metabolic dysfunction and pregnancy loss following assisted reproduction: A cross-sectional study

We studied whether a man's metabolic health around the time of undergoing assisted reproduction was linked to pregnancy outcomes (conception and pregnancy loss). Men's weight and metabolic blood tests including cholesterol, triglyceride, insulin and glucose were assessed in 363 couples, of which 41% became pregnant. More than half of all men had at least one abnormal metabolic result. We found that male body mass index and overall metabolic problems were not associated with the likelihood of conceiving, however among couples who conceived, abnormalities in male metabolic blood tests were linked to more than twice the risk of pregnancy loss. High triglyceride levels and insulin resistance were most closely associated with pregnancy loss. Overall, the study suggests that father's metabolic health may affect the risk of losing a pregnancy, however further research is needed to confirm this.