If you’re struggling with obesity, there are actually several ways by which your excess weight is taking a toll on your body. It’s common knowledge that obesity is closely tied to cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes.

The truth is that obesity also impairs both your sexual function and your reproductive health. In addition, paternal obesity not only impacts your sperm parameters, but it may also affect your offspring’s health. Find out how obesity can impair your reproductive potential and find out what you can do to enhance your fertility.

Low Sperm Count

Several studies have established that obesity does, in fact, affect your sperm parameters. One study showed that having a BMI or body mass index of over 25 is associated with at least 20% lower sperm count as compared to the sperm count of men with a healthy weight.

Another study revealed that if you’re obese, you’re 42% more likely to produce lesser sperm than men with normal weights. In addition, your likelihood of having no sperm in your ejaculate can be as high as 80%. If you don’t have any sperm in your semen, that certainly means you won’t be able to impregnate your partner, unless you undergo IVF.

Obesity is also tied to poor sperm DNA integrity. This means that if you’re obese, there’s a good chance that many of your spermatozoa will have damaged, broken, or fragmented DNA material. In addition, obesity is also linked with higher levels of oxidative stress in the semen and testicular cells.

Other studies have also shown that obesity may lead to low sperm concentration, poor sperm motility, and a high percentage of sperm with abnormal morphology. These studies indicate that having too much excess weight can make it difficult for you and your partner to conceive.

Low Testosterone Levels

There have also been several studies on the association between obesity and testosterone levels. Spermatogenesis is actually a complex process and it’s highly influenced by your hormones. Having an altered hormone profile can greatly impact your sperm production.

Research indicates that a higher BMI is associated with decreased SHBG and testosterone levels, with a concomitant increase in estrogen levels. Having high levels of estrogen and low testosterone levels can lead to subfertility and a reduced sperm count.

Your Sertoli cells, which are responsible for the nutritional and physical support of your developing germ cells, actually need testosterone to perform their function. An insufficient supply of testosterone to your Sertoli cells can cause your developing spermatids to die off due to lack of nutrition, thus resulting in low sperm counts.

Other hormones that are also involved in spermatogenesis and Sertoli cell functions include SHBG, inhibin B, FSH, and LH. These hormones have also been observed to decrease as BMI increases.

Obesity-Related Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome, a health condition that’s characterized by a group of symptoms such as high triglyceride or cholesterol levels, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and excess visceral fat, is also associated with impaired fertility in men.

Metabolic disorders can cause excessively high levels of circulating insulin, a condition that is referred to as hyperinsulinemia. Coupled with hyperglycemia or excessively high blood sugar levels, hyperinsulinemia can result in poor sperm quality and low sperm quantity.

In addition, both metabolic syndrome and diabetes are associated with increased oxidative stress levels, which can then cause your sperm health to suffer. Your spermatozoa are actually very sensitive to oxidative stress and they can be easily damaged by lipid peroxidation.

Increased Testicular Temperature

It may not be common knowledge, but obesity can actually increase your testicular temperature. And a high gonadal temperature can also lead to impaired sperm production. In fact, your testicular cells may completely stop producing sperm if your testicular temperature is too high.

If your testicular temperature increases just by 1°C, that can already cause a 14% drop in your sperm production. The higher your testicular temperature increases, the more will it affect spermatogenesis, until your sperm production completely stops. As you can imagine, this will greatly impact your fertility.

In addition, heat stress can also cause several types of damage to your sperm cells. DNA damage can happen, and apoptosis can also occur. Apoptosis means that your sperm cells actually die which, in turn, will lead to a lower sperm count and impaired fertility. In short, the more fat you have in your scrotal area, the more likely your fertility will suffer.

Enhancing Male Fertility Through Natural Means

Improving your reproductive potential may not be easy but if you make the effort, you may be able to conceive and have children even without resorting to assisted reproductive technology.

Of course, lifestyle changes are paramount, especially if you’re obese and infertile. It can’t be stressed enough that losing weight can mean so much for your fertility, your overall health, and even your sexual function.

Exercising regularly is actually known to really help men who are overweight and obese regain their erectile function, increase their testosterone levels, as well as improve their semen parameters.

Not only that, but your dietary intake can also help you increase your reproductive potential. You may have already heard of infertile men being advised to increase their vitamin D and zinc intake, but these two nutrients are not the only ones that can positively affect your fertilization capacity.

Supplements that are rich in antioxidants such as Tribulus terrestris, Ashwagandha, and Tongkat Ali can also help enhance your sperm parameters. In fact, these herbal supplements are known to help increase sperm production and protect your sperm from oxidative stress through their antioxidant content.

Not only that, but Tribulus terrestris, Tongkat Ali, and Ashwagandha are also known to help increase the number of sperms with normal morphology, as well as improve sperm motility. By improving such sperm parameters, these herbs will greatly enhance your fertility and improve your reproductive potential.

Other herbs that are also known to help increase sperm counts and semen volume include Horny Goat Weed and maca. Both maca and Horny Goat Weed are also antioxidant-rich, which is why they’re able to protect your sperm from the damages of oxidative stress.

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