Male Infertility Linked to Elevated risk of Morbidity and Mortality

In a recent systematic review and meta-analysis, a robust connection has been established between male infertility and a higher susceptibility to various health complications and mortality. The study was published in the European Urology Focus.

Utilizing data from PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases, researchers compared outcomes for infertile versus fertile men. The results, represented in forest plots and quasi-individual patient data meta-analysis, revealed compelling insights. Infertile men exhibited a notable 37% increase in the risk of death from any cause (hazard risk [HR] 1.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.81, p = 0.027). This elevated risk translated to a 30-year survival probability of 91.0% (95% CI 89.6–92.4%) for infertile men, in contrast to 95.9% (95% CI 95.3–96.4%) for their fertile counterparts (p < 0.001).

The study further identified substantial elevated risks in relation to specific diseases. The risk of being diagnosed with testis cancer was 86% higher in infertile men (relative risk [RR] 1.86, 95% CI 1.41–2.45, p < 0.001), while risks of melanoma and prostate cancer also exhibited significant increases (RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.08–1.56, p = 0.006; RR 1.66, 95% CI 1.06–2.61, p < 0.001, respectively).

The connection extended to metabolic health as well, with infertile men facing a 39% elevated risk of diabetes (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.09–1.71, p = 0.008). This risk translated into a 30-year probability of diabetes of 25.0% (95% CI 21.1–26.9%) for infertile men compared to 17.1% (95% CI 16.1–18.1%) for fertile men (p < 0.001). Additionally, infertile men had a 20% higher risk of cardiovascular events (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.00–1.44, p = 0.049), with probabilities of major cardiovascular events standing at 15.7% (95% CI 14.3–16.9%) for infertile men and 13.9% (95% CI 13.3–14.6%) for fertile men (p = 0.008).

The study's findings emphasize the importance of acknowledging male infertility as a broader indicator of overall men's health. As the increased risks spanned multiple health dimensions, the researchers suggest that addressing male infertility may serve as an avenue for improving preventive strategies that extend beyond reproductive goals.

Reference:

Fallara, G., Pozzi, E., Belladelli, F., Boeri, L., Capogrosso, P., Corona, G., D’Arma, A., Alfano, M., Montorsi, F., & Salonia, A. (2023). A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis on the Impact of Infertility on Men’s General Health. In European Urology Focus. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euf.2023.07.010