Effects of Physical Activity on Fertility Parameters:A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
- Author:
Arturo Lo GIUDICE
1
;
Maria Giovanna ASMUNDO
;
Sebastiano CIMINO
;
Giuseppe MORGIA
;
Andrea COCCI
;
Marco FALCONE
;
Ioannis SOKOLAKIS
;
Paolo CAPOGROSSO
;
Afonso MORGADO
;
Giorgio Ivan RUSSO
;
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:The World Journal of Men's Health 2024;42(3):555-562
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Purpose:Augmented adiposity may negatively impact sexual sphere through its metabolic effects and its detrimental impact on reproductive hormones. Moreover, a dysregulated metabolic pathway may promote apoptosis among spermatogenic cells. Based on these premises, a relation between weights loss and ameliorate semen parameters seems beneficial. To investigate if physical activity may affect semen parameters and fertility rate, a systematic literature search on major dataset has been performed.
Materials and Methods:The search terms included: “Assisted reproduction therapies,” “fertility,” “semen parameters,” “sperm parameters,” and “physical activity.” This analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines and it was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023384471). A total of 47 studies have been identified; 1 reference has been eliminated after duplication check. After preliminary screening 32 papers have been excluded. Considering the exclusion criteria, 15 full-text articles were evaluated for eligibility. After a full-text review, six studies published during a span of eight years (2014–2022) have been included in the meta-analysis. Semen parameters, pregnancy and birth rates were investigated. The revised Cochrane risk of bias tool (Rob2) has been used to check the risk of bias.
Results:The number of patients enrolled in studies ranges from 17 to 521; in the end, a total of 1,637 patients have been enrolled in the study. Fertility parameters investigated were semen quality parameters and pregnancy rates and live births. A statistically significant relationship between physical exercise and sperm concentration (p=0.02), total sperm motility (p<0.01), total sperm count (p<0.01), normal morphology (p<0.01) has been established. Moreover, the study registered a statistically significant association within physical activity and total pregnancy rate (p<0.01) and live birth rate (p<0.01).
Conclusions:We demonstrated that physical activity is significantly associated with amelioration of semen parameters and may be crucial in improving or even reverting male infertility.
