Excessive energy intake through food and a sedentary lifestyle lead to obesity and the diseases it causes. It is impossible for changes in the body not to affect reproductive health. Unbalanced and unconscious weight loss in individuals who are overweight can also create problems in the reproductive system due to insufficient energy intake required by the body. It is known that smoking and alcohol consumption in men impair sperm quality and reduce the chances of becoming a father. While smoking reduces antioxidant levels in semen, excessive alcohol intake disrupts sperm functions through similar mechanisms. It is also thought that environmental pollution, lifestyle changes, and dietary habits affect semen quality. While the effect of lifestyle on the success of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) in women is known, research on men is insufficient. In the first month of this year, an article was published in the journal Fertility and Sterility, a publication of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, investigating the effect of men’s lifestyles undergoing ART on microinjection success.

In this study, Braga D. and colleagues conducted a multiple-choice questionnaire with 250 individuals at a private IVF center in Brazil to determine lifestyle and dietary habits before treatment. Before microinjection, they also conducted face-to-face interviews to examine participants' nutrition and lifestyle. Food categories were classified as grains, vegetables, legumes, fruits, red meat, chicken, fish, dairy products, sweets, alcoholic beverages, coffee, and caffeinated drinks, and daily intake amounts were determined. Physical activity, dieting, number of meals, smoking habits, and body mass index were evaluated.

Effects on sperm parameters:

Sperm count was negatively affected by obesity and alcohol intake, and positively affected by grain consumption and number of meals.

Sperm motility was negatively affected by obesity, alcohol consumption, and smoking, and positively affected by fruit and grain intake.

No effect of diet or lifestyle was found on sperm morphology (shape abnormalities).

Effects on microinjection outcomes:

Fertilization is negatively affected by male coffee and alcohol consumption and female smoking.

Implantation is negatively affected by a meat-heavy diet in men, dieting for weight loss, and obesity in women.

Pregnancy is similarly negatively affected by a meat-heavy diet and dieting in men, and obesity in women.

No effect of lifestyle or diet was found on miscarriage risk.

This study highlights that regular consumption of grains, legumes, fruits, and daily regular eating positively affects sperm quality. This effect is attributed to the minerals, amino acids, and antioxidant vitamins contained in these foods, improving semen quality.

According to the results, dieting for weight loss during ART negatively affects male reproductive functions. A meat-heavy diet shows similar negative effects, attributed to xenoestrogens. Xenoestrogens accumulate in fat-rich foods such as meat, milk, and processed meat products, and excessive intake may impair semen quality.

In summary, smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity reduce natural pregnancy rates by impairing semen quality. Consumption of fruits, grains, legumes, and vegetables improves sperm quality. If ART is planned, men are advised to avoid smoking, alcohol, and coffee, avoid a meat-heavy diet, not skip meals, and not follow restrictive diets, while also avoiding weight gain. Women should be aware of the negative effects of obesity and smoking on reproductive health.

 

Dr. Ferruh Zorlu / Urology Specialist