In a recent study published in the International Journal of Obesity , researchers in China conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and semen quality. They found that obesity and overweight are significantly associated with reductions in semen quality, with more pronounced effects in men with higher levels of obesity. Study: Association between body mass index and semen quality: a systematic review and meta-analysis .
Image Credit: Ljupco Smokovski / Shutterstock Infertility affects about 15% of reproductive-age couples globally, with 20–70% of cases attributed to male factors, primarily poor semen quality. Research shows a global decline in semen quality, with significant decreases in total sperm number and sperm concentration observed from 1973 to 2011 in Western countries and similarly in China from 1981 to 2019. Factors such as age, lifestyle, and environmental influences contribute to this decline.
Abnormal BMI is a potential risk factor, given its global increase. Although several meta-analyses link obesity to declines in semen parameters, results are inconsistent due to methodological limitations, including varying BMI classifications and potential biases. The association between BMI and semen quality across different fertility statuses requires further investigation.
Therefore, in the present study, researchers performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the link between BMI and semen.