Sperm disorder in males with obesity and metabolic syndrome--pilot study
Robeva, R.; Sestrimska, N.; Atanasova, I.; Mekhandzhiev, T.; Tomova, A.; Kumanov, F.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiia 47(3): 11-14
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 0324-0959 PMID: 18756826 Document Number: 617158
The aim of the study was to compare the semen quality in men with metabolic syndrome /MS/ and controls. Semen samples were collected from 42 males (mean age--27.69 +/- 7.98 years). 21 of them had the features of the metabolic syndrome according to the IDF definition and 21 were healthy volunteers. The semen samples were analyzed according to the World Health Organization 1999 guidelines. The patients with MS had similar age, ejaculate volume, percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology, sperm concentration (in million per milliliter), and total sperm count (in million) compared to controls. However, they had lower percentage of motile spermatozoa (p = 0.002). Men with obesity (BMI > 30) had significantly lower sperm concentration and total sperm count in comparison to normal- or overweight males (BMI < 30). reduced semen quality could be established in patients with obesity and MS. Further investigations are necessary to clarify the changes in the exocrine testicular function in males with MS and their consequences for the reproduction.