A few more pounds increase male fertility

A recent study from China provides astonishing findings on fertility in couples: According to their results, a few extra pounds on the men's hips increases the chance of having a baby.

Two million couples took part in the study. "However, caution is advised here: because being very overweight and underweight already reduces fertility in young men," warns Prof. Heinz Strohmer, our medical director of the Kinderwunschzentrum an der Wien. The body mass index, which is often used in the sports and health sectors, was used as the basis for calculation. But before both sexes start to cheer, it should be said that the reverse is not true for women: The results for women clearly show that neither being overweight nor underweight - especially obesity - is an advantage in getting pregnant. Any deviation from normal weight significantly prolongs the onset of pregnancy. "Whether or not a pregnancy occurs depends heavily on the couple's lifestyle," explains our medical director, Prof. Strohmer.

Normal weight in women increases fertility

Women of normal weight therefore have the best prerequisites for getting pregnant relatively quickly - especially in partnership with a slightly overweight man. But what is a “normal” weight? The Body Mass Index can be used here for orientation, which can be easily calculated online on various websites. Basically, a BMI value of 19 to a maximum of 25 is ideal for both a woman's physical health and her fertility. “We recommend couples who want to have children to think about family planning at an early stage and to develop an awareness of their own bodies. A healthy way of life can significantly support the future journey towards having children ”, says Prof. Strohmer.

For men, a few pounds more can't hurt

Interestingly, men who were slightly overweight performed better than men of normal weight and in any case better than their underweight or even obese fellow study participants. However, caution is advised when interpreting the results: Because the study has only been carried out in China so far, the findings primarily apply to the local population and are not necessarily transferable to men of other nationalities. Presumably, however, there is nothing to be said against putting one or the other piece of cake on the plate of your loved one if you want to have children. After all, it is not every day that science gives us such gratifying results.

Sources:
www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(20)30532-X/fulltext