title: Correlation between body mass index and semen quality in male infertility patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The question of whether body mass index (BMI) affects semen quality and male fertility is controversial. The purpose of this research was to determine whether there is a correlation between BMI and semen analysis parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 617 male infertility patients were recruited and separated into 3 groups according to BMI values as follows: normal weight group (n = 334), overweight group (n = 220), and obese group (n = 63). Height and weight were measured and a routine semen analysis was performed for all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences existed in BMI, age, and sperm motility (progressive motility) among the 3 groups. BMI and abstinence period were negatively correlated with sperm motility (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01), although they did not correlate with semen volume, total sperm number, concentration, and rate of sperm with normal morphology (P > 0.05). Abstinence, BMI, and age had a linear correlation with sperm motility (P < 0.01) in that order of influence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sperm motility, an important semen parameter with respect to male fertility, is reduced in men with increased BMI, and BMI is one of the risk factors that influence semen quality.
authors.forename: Wen-Hao
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Xin-jie
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Lu-Lin
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Lian-Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: De-Feng
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jia-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Hong-Liang
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shan-Jie
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055101:Semen Analysis; D012746:Sexual Abstinence / Q000502:physiology; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult