Maintaining Normal Weight Early in Life May Help Prevent Male Infertility

New research suggests that more careful control of body weight in childhood and adolescence could help prevent male infertility later in life. The researchers will present their findings on Saturday, June 11 at ENDO 2022, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Atlanta, Ga.

The study finds that children and adolescents with overweight or obesity, or those who have high levels of insulin or insulin resistance tend to have smaller testicles compared with their peers with normal weight and insulin levels.

"More careful control of body weight in childhood and adolescence may help to maintain testicular function later in life," said lead researcher Rossella Cannarella, M.D., of the University of Catania in Italy.

The prevalence of male infertility is increasing, and average sperm count has been reduced by half in the past 40 years worldwide for no apparent reason, she said.

Testicular volume (a measure of testicle size) is directly related to sperm count. This means smaller testicles tend to produce less sperm. Up to one-quarter of young men aged 18-19 have low testicular volume, or smaller-than-normal testicles. This puts their future fertility at risk, Cannarella said. At the same time, the prevalence of childhood obesity has increased.