Male Obesity and Sperm Health

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Obesity and sperm health are not a healthy pairing which is why obesity is a central cause of male infertility.

Sperm health is measured by three factors:

1. Motility – Ability to swim efficiently;
2. Vitality – Percentage of living healthy sperm in a specimen; and
3. Morphology – Size and shape of individual sperm.

Excess fat alters a man’s hormones — increasing estrogen and lowering testosterone. It also increases the temperature of the testicles, which should typically be lower than a man’s core body temperature. If, however, testicular temperature is higher over time, it is difficult to generate healthy sperm in high quality and high count.

“Infertility problems” are not just a female issue. A man’s weight also has a significant impact on a couple’s ability to conceive.

A more serious men’s infertility issue, azoospermia (a complete lack of viable sperm in the semen) is also more common in obese men.