Effect of Obesity on Hormonal Profile and Semen Parameters of Male Partners of Infertile Couples in Kwara State Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Infertility is a global and a public health concern in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa and obesity is gradually becoming an epidemic disease that is rapidly spreading among Africans. Male obesity has been associated with increased incidence of low sperm concentration and progressively low motile sperm count. Methods: The study was a multicenter prospective comparative analytical study conducted at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Anchor Medical Centre, Royal Medical Centre, Surulere Medical Centre and Mid-land Fertility Centre all in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria over a period of six months (February to July 2011). Our aim was to identify the effect of male obesity on measures of reproductive potentials among male partners of infertile couples. Serum levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estrogen of 42 obese and 42 non obese male partners of infertile couples were assayed in addition to seminal fluid analysis. Results: There was a statistically significant association between obesity, class of obesity with sperm count and sperm motility (All P< 0.05) and low serum levels of FSH and testosterone (All p <0.05) levels. There was however no significant association between LH and estrogen levels in this study. (All P > 0.05). Conclusion: This study has demonstrated an inverse but significant relationship between male obesity and semen parameters (sperm count and motility), serum testosterone and FSH amongst the study population. This suggests that male obesity has an adverse effect on the quality of semen amongst male partners of infertile couples.