Growing evidence in the literature suggests that obesity is capable of altering reproductive hormone levels and male fertility. Effects on classic semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF), however, have not been properly established.
Additionally, the impact of bariatric surgery (BS) on those parameters is still controversial.
In Phase 1, 42 patients with obesity and 32 fertile controls were submitted to reproductive hormone evaluation, semen analysis, and SDF testing. In Phase 2, patients with obesity were submitted to BS or clinical follow-up and were invited to 6-month revaluation.
Phase 1: Men with obesity have higher levels of estradiol, LH, and FSH and lower levels of total testosterone (TT) when compared with eutrophic fertile men. Additionally, they present worse semen parameters, with reduction in ejaculated volume and sperm concentration, worse sperm motility and morphology, and higher SDF. Phase 2: 32 patients returned to revaluation. Eighteen were submitted to BS (group S) and 14 were not submitted to any specific therapeutic regimen (group NS). In group S, TT more than doubled after surgery (294.5 to 604 ng/dL, p < 0.0001). Worsening of sperm concentration and total ejaculated sperm count were also noticed, and 2 patients became azoospermic after BS. SDF, however, improved after the procedure. No changes in the variables studied were observed in non-operated patients.
In this prospective study, we have found that BS results in improvements in reproductive hormone levels and SDF after 6-month follow-up. Sperm concentration, however, reduced after the procedure.
Obesity surgery. 2020 Jul 22 [Epub ahead of print]
Guilherme Jacom Abdulmassih Wood, Bruno C Tiseo, Davi V Paluello, Hamilton de Martin, Marco Aurelio Santo, William Nahas, Miguel Srougi, Marcello Cocuzza
Division of Urology, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Eneas de Carvalho Aguiar, 255 - 7° andar - sala 7175, Sao Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil. ., Division of Urology, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Eneas de Carvalho Aguiar, 255 - 7° andar - sala 7175, Sao Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil., Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32700180