Additionally, Dr. Ferlin reported that 35% of men with hypogonadism had osteopenia, and 17% met criteria for osteoporosis. The numbers surprised the investigators. “These are very young men – about 30 years old,” said Dr. Ferlin.
Dr. Ferlin and his collaborators also looked at the subset of eugonadal men in the study, comparing those with normal sperm counts (n = 2,431) to those who had low sperm counts, (n = 1,423). They found that men with low sperm counts had significantly higher body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels (P less than .001 for all).
High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, testosterone, and follicle stimulating hormone levels were also significantly lower for men with low sperm count. “Men with oligozoospermia … have an increased risk of metabolic derangement – so, altered lipid profile with higher LDL cholesterol and lower HDL [cholesterol], higher triglycerides, higher insulin resistance,” said Dr. Ferlin.
The findings have implications for reproductive endocrinologists caring for couples with infertility, said Dr. Ferlin. “Infertile men should be studied comprehensively, and the diagnosis cannot be limited to just one semen analysis,” given the study’s findings, he said. “All these men should be counseled, should be treated … for worsening of these cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors that are present in such frequency in oligozoospermic men.”
Dr. Ferlin reported no conflicts of interest.