[Body weight increase and quality of semen: a controversial association]. / Aumento del peso corporal y calidad seminal: una asociación controvertida.

BACKGROUND: Infertility is a public health disorder affecting 10% of the population worldwide. Research on the impact of body mass index (BMI) on male fertility is very limited as compared to the multiple studies evaluating the impact of overweight in women's fertility. Although 25%-30% of the cases of couples consulting for infertility are attributable to male factors, studies evaluating the association between semen parameters and BMI are controversial. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of BMI on semen parameters in a selected group of men with unexplained infertility. METHOD: A retrospective analysis of 168 patients during the 2008-2010 period. They all had at least one semen analysis and related studies to rule out known causes of infertility. Median age of patients was 35 years (22-55), and they were divided into three groups: normal weight (BMI: 20-24.9kg/m(2)), overweight (BMI 25-29.9kg/m(2)), and obese (BMI ≥30kg/m(2)). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in semen parameters evaluated between the three groups, and no significant correlation was found between the same parameters and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant association between BMI and conventional semen parameters, but we cannot exclude an impairment in other semen parameters that are not routinely assessed, which could result in a lower potential fertility in these individuals.

Aumento del peso corporal y calidad seminal: una asociación controvertida / Body weight increase and quality of semen: a controversial association

Antecedentes La infertilidad es un problema de salud que afecta aproximadamente al 10% de la población mundial. La investigación del impacto del índice de masa corporal (IMC) sobre la fertilidad masculina es limitada comparada con los estudios realizados en mujeres. A pesar de que en el 25-30% de los casos de infertilidad de pareja el factor es exclusivamente masculino, los estudios sobre parámetros seminales e IMC son controvertidos. Objetivo Evaluar el impacto del IMC sobre los parámetros seminales en una población seleccionada de hombres que consultaron por infertilidad sin causa aparente. Método Análisis retrospectivo sobre 168 pacientes durante el período 2008-2010. Todos contaban al menos con un espermiograma y estudios correspondientes para descartar causas conocidas de infertilidad. La mediana de edad de los pacientes fue de 35 años (22–55). Fueron divididos en 3 grupos: normopeso (IMC: 20-24.9 kg/m2) sobrepeso (IMC 25-29.9 kg/m2) y obesos (IMC ≥ 30 kg/m2).Resultados No se encontraron diferencias significativas de los diversos parámetros evaluados entre los distintos grupos de IMC. Tampoco se halló correlación significativa entre esos mismos parámetros y el IMC. Conclusiones No existió una asociación entre el IMC y los parámetros convencionales del semen, pero no podemos descartar que exista una afectación de otros parámetros seminales, no evaluados rutinariamente, que podrían provocar menor potencial de fertilidad en estos individuos (AU)

Background Infertility is a public health disorder affecting 10% of the population worldwide. Research on the impact of body mass index (BMI) on male fertility is very limited as compared to the multiple studies evaluating the impact of overweight in women's fertility. Although 25%-30% of the cases of couples consulting for infertility are attributable to male factors, studies evaluating the association between semen parameters and BMI are controversial. Objective To assess the impact of BMI on semen parameters in a selected group of men with unexplained infertility. Method A retrospective analysis of 168 patients during the 2008-2010 period. They all had at least one semen analysis and related studies to rule out known causes of infertility. Median age of patients was 35 years (22-55), and they were divided into three groups: normal weight (BMI: 20-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2), and obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2).Results There were no significant differences in semen parameters evaluated between the three groups, and no significant correlation was found between the same parameters and BMI. Conclusions There was no significant association between BMI and conventional semen parameters, but we cannot exclude an impairment in other semen parameters that are not routinely assessed, which could result in a lower potential fertility in these individuals (AU)