Obesity linked to low sperm count & infertility

By Brandie Umar - Executive Director of Content | August 12th, 2010

The link between female infertility and obesity has long been established. Researchers at German University of Leipzig have found that obesity is also closely linked to low sperm count, particularly in young men and could be the reason for rising rates of male infertility.

The research published in the Journal of Fertility and Sterility was not conclusive enough to provide a direct link between infertility and obesity in males - all men in the 2,000 group tested had sperm counts within the 'normal' range - yet the distinction between the sperm counts of obese males and men within a healthy weight range was enough to trigger further research into the subject.

In a previous study published in the same journal, obesity has been linked to poor sperm quality, in particular the motility of sperm. For sperm to fertilize and egg, the motility (way in which the sperm moves) is important. Healthy sperm moves in a straight line making it easier to penetrate the surface of the ova. Sperm with low motility moves aimlessly, making it more likely for fertility assistance to be needed.

Neither of the problems identified in the separate studies are alone enough to cause

male infertility, however combined the noted sperm movement problems and low sperm count could make conception difficult without the assistance of fertility treatment. Men suffering from low sperm counts and poor sperm quality are often able to overcome infertility though treatments which extract sperm and separate the healthiest sperm for use in IVF and IUI.