Poor semen quality can pose a problem for couples trying to conceive, but it appears that infertility also serves as a health warning sign for men. Findings of a new study reveal an association between a man's low-quality semen and his increased probability of having other unwanted health conditions.
For the study published in Fertility and Sterility on Dec. 10, Michael Eisenberg from Stanford University School of Medicine's Department of Urology and colleagues looked at the medical data of over 9,000 men who were 38 years old on average and have infertility problems.
The subjects routinely provided samples of their semen, which were assessed for volume, concentration and motility, or the ability of the sperm to move correctly to reach and fertilize an egg. About half of whom were found to have abnormal semen and the remaining half had reproduction problems caused by something else.
By assessing the overall health of the men, the researchers found that 44 percent of the subjects had other health problems besides infertility. Eisenberg and colleagues, in particular, observed an association between poor semen quality and certain diseases that were not previously linked with fertility problems such as those that affect the circulatory system, including vascular disease, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Eisenberg's team likewise observed that with the increasing number of semen defects, the probability of men having a skin disease or endocrine disorder rises. The relationship also appears to work the other way around. The researchers observed that the men with worse health had increased likelihood to have poor semen quality and low semen measures.
The researchers said that while genetics play an important role in a man's sperm production, the findings of the study suggest that a man's health condition can also be a crucial factor in his reproductive abilities.
"The current report identified a relationship between medical comorbidites and male semen production. Although genetics help guide a man's sperm production, his current condition and health play an important role," the researchers wrote.
Although the study does not show a causal relationship, the researchers said that there are a number of ways circulatory problems can be linked with poor semen quality such that these conditions are all tied to smoking and obesity.
"Infertility is a warning: problems with reproduction may mean problems with overall health," Eisenberg said. "As we treat men's infertility, we should also assess their overall health."
