title: Male obesity and alteration in sperm parameters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of male obesity on sperm parameters and erectile dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Referral fertility center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Couples presenting for infertility treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  On presentation, all men reported their weight and height and filled out an intake form that includes questions regarding factors that affect male infertility, including presence of erectile dysfunction. Body mass index (BMI) was divided into three groups: normal (BMI <25 kg/m(2)), overweight (25 kg/m(2) <or= BMI < 30 kg/m(2)), and obese (BMI >or=30 kg/m(2)). Sperm parameters reviewed included sperm concentration and progressively motile sperm count.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oligozoospermia, low progressively motile sperm count, and self-reported erectile dysfunction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the study population was 32.8 +/- 0.3 years. Among the 526 patients, 10.2% (54 of 526) were excluded because of the presence of a male factor known to affect fertility. The incidence of oligozoospermia increased with increasing BMI: normal weight = 5.32%, overweight = 9.52%, and obese = 15.62%. The prevalence of a low progressively motile sperm count was also greater with increasing BMI: normal weight = 4.52%, overweight = 8.93%, and obese = 13.28%. The incidence of erectile dysfunction did not vary across BMI categories when corrected for potential contributing factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Male obesity is associated with increased incidence of low sperm concentration and low progressively motile sperm count.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Utah, School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA. ahmad.hammoud@hsc.utah.edu
authors.forename: Ahmad O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Hammoud
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wilde
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parks
authors.forename: Douglas T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Carrell
authors.forename: A Wayne
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Meikle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires