Relation of Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference to Some Fertility Markers among Male Partner of Infertile Couples

Y. M, Hodeeb; Al Dinary, Amal M.; Abd El-galil, Heba M.; Hammour, Zeinab El-sayed; H. S, Ibrahim

doi:10.12816/0023845

Relation of Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference to Some Fertility Markers among Male Partner of Infertile Couples

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Departments of Dermatology & Veneriology Al-Azhar Faculty of Medicine

² Departments of Community MedicineAl-Azhar Faculty of Medicine

³ International Islamic Centre for Population Studies and Researches

10.12816/0023845

Abstract

Background: Global estimates of infertility range between 8% and 12% of couples with women of childbearing age, affecting 50–80 million people. Excess weight is not only linked to increasedrisk of chronic disease but has also been shown to increase risk of reproductive problems. The consequences of obesity in female fertility have been widely studied, but studies in the male population are less frequent.
Aim of the study: The aim of this study to clarify the role of body mass Index and waist circumference on some male-fertility laboratory markers among Egyptian males of infertile couples.
Subjects and methods: A descriptive cross sectional studywas carried out on a total sample of 59 males of infertile couples for at least one year after regular unprotected reproductive activity. BMI and WC were assessed, and a morning blood sample was taken assessing serum levels of testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, prolactin, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone, and estradiol. Semen-analysis parameters were also measured.
Results: In the present study, it was found that there was no statistical significant difference in relation of BMI or WC and sperm count. The likelihood of athenospermia was increased at higher BMI and WC values. BMI was not found to be associated with mean numeric values of the semen-analysis parameters, including sperm count, sperm morphology, and sperm motility. BMI was not significantly correlated with some hormone levels, such as LH and prolactin. However, a statistically significant inverse correlations was observed between WC and testosterone (r=-0.3&p=0.04). A different pattern of associations in this study was observed when the associations between BMI &WC and sexual hormone levels were compared between (fertile and subfertile) from infertile men.
Conclusion: The association explored between WC and testosterone as well as different patterns of this association between (fertile and subfertile) from infertile men.

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