Body Mass Index is something that everyone heard in textbooks during their school days. But, BMI is a significant indicator of health and also a measure of how weight can impact male fertility.
It’s because research states that low and high BMI levels can be a reason for several infertility issues. It results in hormonal imbalances, poor reproductive health, sperm production, and so on.
Low and high BMI levels can result in issues with conception and unexplained infertility. Keep exploring to be aware of how BMI affects the male reproductive system and the right time to seek medical help. Understanding the side effects helps to resolve the underlying issues that delay conception and parenthood.
How BMI Affects Male Reproductive Function
BMI is a simple tool that helps to determine whether a person is maintaining a correct weight according to his/her age. If,
| BMI Level | What It indicates |
|---|---|
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BMI less than 19
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Underweight
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BMI is between 19 and 25
|
Normal |
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BMI is between 25 and 29
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Overweight
|
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BMI is more than 30
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Obese |
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Low BMI
|
It can lead to a decrease in sperm quality as your body may not have sufficient food for the production and development of healthy sperm.
|
|
High BMI
|
This condition can lead to hormone imbalance, which may affect sperm quality and production.
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In what ways Obesity Affects Male Reproductive Function
Egg and sperm quality are crucial for successful pregnancy outcomes. Excessive weight can lead to hormonal imbalance and affect sperm quality and morphology.
It results in miscarriages or facing difficulties when trying to conceive. The hormonal imbalance due to obesity reduces sperm production in males.
Mechanisms Link Obesity to Male Infertility
Oxidative Stress
Imbalances of free radicals and antioxidants cause oxidative stress and damage sperm DNA. Consuming foods that are rich in antioxidants can effectively help to treat this condition.
Inflammation
Obesity can result in constant inflammation in the body that may affect sperm health and decrease fertility.
Endocrine Disruption
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals can affect sperm production, quality, morphology, and others. Hormonal imbalances can also occur due to obesity, which decreases testosterone production and increases estrogen levels in men. Therefore, maintaining the normal BMI range from 18.5 to 24.9 is essential for improved health and fertility.
List side effects of Obesity on Sperm Quality
Overweight affects semen quality, production, sperm count, and morphology, leading to countless infertility issues. Take a glance at how it affects sperm quality.
Testosterone levels are important for healthy sperm production, and obesity can potentially affect this process. The increase in leptin production, present in high levels of fat cells, can disrupt testosterone levels.
As a result, men could face sperm production impairment, a low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and even sperm cramps, causing discomfort and further complications.
Obesity-related hormonal imbalances and poor circulation can also contribute to erectile dysfunction, which is why many couples struggle when the husband has erectile dysfunction, further impacting natural conception.
Additionally, obesity affects scrotum temperature, which can interfere with sperm health and function.
What to do to Maintain a Healthy BMI to Improve Fertility
Maintaining a healthy weight according to your age and height is not an easy thing, it requires consistent steps every day. So, try to follow these steps to maintain a healthy BMI that contributes to improving fertility.
Tips to maintain a healthy weight
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet, count the calories you intake, and get suggestions from a dietitian.
- Stay active and do some physical activities. You can start up with simple exercises or go for a walk.
- Limit your screen time, which keeps you idle for more time.
- Men should cut off high caffeine, high-fat dairy products, soy, processed meat, excess alcohol, and smoking habits. Avoid processed foods, canned items, carbonated drinks, and other junk foods to stop adding extra calories to your daily diet.
Foods to improve fertility
- Consume foods rich in antioxidants such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains. Add essential nutrients like folate, Vitamin B12, Zinc, omega-s fatty acids, and D-aspartic acid to your diet.
- To increase the sperm count naturally, you can include oysters, beef, tomatoes, salmon, walnuts, Indian Gooseberry, fenugreek, and green leafy vegetables.
Following these things also improves male fertility.
When to Seek Professional Help for Fertility Issues
Men may hesitate to open up with a fertility doctor and visit fertility centres. However, those trying for a baby for more than six months or a year without success should consult a doctor at the best fertility hospital. They examine your body and provide the right treatment, increasing the chances of conception.
Conclusion
Men may think that being underweight doesn’t contribute to infertility. But they should understand that both underweight and obesity can result in low and high BMI levels. This may result in several fertility problems, still, men don’t want to panic too much. Because they can reduce their weight and improve fertility with some lifestyle changes and a healthy diet.
FAQs
Yes, whether it is underweight or overweight, both can affect male fertility and have an impact on the production and quality of sperm. So, doctors recommend men should maintain a normal body weight to have a happy pregnancy and healthy life.
Yes, a recent study found that obese men can improve their semen quality if they lose weight. So, consult your doctor and get a personalized diet plan.
From 25 to 29, men will be most fertile and after 45 years, men start witnessing a decrease in semen volume. Similar to a female’s egg quality and count, sperm quality also begins to decline at the age of 30.
According to the research, 42% of obese men can have a low sperm count and 81% of obese men are more likely to produce no sperm. Also, obesity can alter the physical and molecular structure of germ cells in the tests and mature sperm.
