Infertility affects between 60 to 168 million people worldwide and majority of those suffering live in the developing world [1] . The reported prevalence of infertility in Pakistan is 21% of which 35% is contributed by male factor [2] [3] . Despite of recent proliferation in the field of reproduction whereby infertility has lately been construed to be a serious global problem, there are several reasons why infertility is ignored in the developing countries, and social norms are one of the important reasons [1] .

Historically, the work up for the infertile couples has focused primarily on the conditions of female although male infertility presents a particularly vexing clinical problem [4] . Male infertility has a wide range of etiologies ranging from hormonal imbalance, raised body temperature, local trauma, inflammation, infections, drugs, exposure to occupational and environmental toxins [5] . Reduction of these risk factors may help to restore or preserve natural fertility [6] .

Among all the risk factors that may account for male infertility, obesity is one of the emerging public health problem [7] , which is increasing at an alarming rate in both the developed and developing world [8] . In 2005, 400 million of the world’s adult population was found to be obese. Moreover, if recent trends continue, by 2015, up to 700 million of the world’s adult population will be obese [9] . In South Asia, including Pakistan the increase in obesity is due to rapid social and environmental changes causing increasing urbanization, changing lifestyles, higher energy density of diets, and decreased physical activity [7] . In Pakistani men, the Metroville Health Study (MHS) in 2006 reported a prevalence of 27% and 7.1% for overweight & obesity respectively [10] .

The relationship of obesity with male infertility has been largely ignored [11] and the focus has always been on the detrimental effects of obesity on health risks such as hypertension, cardiac disorders, diabetes and other chronic disorders [7] . The relationship of obesity with male infertility is likely to be multifactorial. Firstly hormonal changes play a very essential role [11] . It is the hypoandrogenism and increased Estradiol (E2) levels that result in low testosterone levels causing deleterious effects on the spermatogenesis [12] . Secondly obesity is often associated with decreased physical activity especially in occupations related to prolonged period of sitting [13] , this may cause fat deposition not only in the abdominal area and thigh but also the scrotal area [14] . Fat deposition around the scrotal blood vessels may impair blood cooling and elevate the testicular temperature causing disruption of the semen parameters [15] . Evidence from different parts of the world such as Norway, Salt lake, Iceland, Finland, Qatar and Denmark have shown a significant association between obesity and male infertility [4] [10] [12] - [17] .

Currently we believe that advanced technologies have diverted the attention of the treating physicians to expensive invasive treatments such as testicular biopsy, intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) [6] . To the best of our knowledge, limited information is available about the modifiable risk factors for male infertility from Pakistani context. And therefore, for resource poor countries such as Pakistan, it is imperative to understand the prevailing modifiable risk factors causing male infertility whereby effective, cheaper and less invasive alternative approaches can be identified for its management and treatment.

Obesity is one of the emerging public health challenges and the relationship of obesity with male infertility has been largely ignored. Hence, the objective of our study was to determine the association of obesity with infertility among Pakistani men.

We conducted a case control study and after taking a written informed consent from the study participants, both the cases and controls were enrolled from Australian Concept Infertility Medical Centre (ACIMC) Karachi, Pakistan from January to March 2013 as shown in Figure 1. The rationale behind the selection of this study center was that ACIMC is the only Centre in Karachi having maximum load of infertile couples seeking infertility treatment as compared to the other infertility centers. The additional benefit of selecting this center was the representation of different ethnic and socio-economic groups, as infertile couples were referred here from the 7 sub branches of the center located in different provinces of Pakistan.

We required a minimum sample size of 200 cases and 200 controls (ratio of case to control of 1:1) in order to achieve 80% power, with an anticipated prevalence of risk factors among the controls ranging from 7% to 63% [18] - [23] , with an expected odds ratio of 2.5 or more [11] [12] [18] [19] [21] [22] [24] [25] and a level of significance of 5%. We were successful in achieving the target and the final sample size for the analysis of 201 cases and 200 controls.

The case and control status of study participants in our study was based on the semen parameters according to

(WHO criteria “92”) i.e. sperm concentration of >20 million/ml, semen volume of >2 ml, motility of >50% and morphology of >30% normal forms [26] . Cases were men with impaired semen parameters and controls did not have impaired semen parameters. A screening tool was administered by the data collectors to identify the eligible subjects after the semen analysis was performed. The inclusion criteria for both the cases and controls were; 18 - 55 years old married Pakistani men, residing in Pakistan for at least the last 6 months or more at the time of interview, who had given the semen sample at the centre for laboratory examination and who consented to participate in the study. The exclusion criteria for both the cases and controls were; history of chemotherapy or radiotherapy: as sperm DNA damage occurs following even a single dose of these drugs [27] , h/o pelvic surgery: as it blocks the internal sphincter of the bladder neck causing closure defect resulting in retrograde ejaculation [28] , h/o inguinal herniorapphy: as it obstructs the vasdeferens and causes testicular atrophy as a result of impaired blood supply to the testis [29] , h/o orchitic mumps: as it impairs the testicular function thereby causing impairment of the semen parameters [29] and family history of infertility: as a probability that the genetic cause for infertility would not be overruled. To avoid contamination of the results, an additional exclusion criterion for controls was men with the history of previous infertility treatment.

Once a patient was eligible to participate in the study a pretested structured questionnaire adapted and modified with the consent of the author [18] & bodily measurement tools that is (height scale, weight scale, standard measuring tape and bioelectrical impedance analyser (for assessment of percent body fat)) were used to collect the information on the potential risk factors for impaired semen parameters.

The data was collected on the sociodemographic factors, obesity status, occupational exposures, tobacco usage, alcohol usage, and previous medical conditions such as scrotal/testicular trauma, varicocele, genitourinary infection, and prolonged fever of more than 38.5˚C for consecutive 14 days in the past 3 months, usage of the medicines such as anti-depressants, antipsychotics, anti-hypertensive and diuretics.

Obesity status of the participants was ascertained by measuring their BMI, waist circumference and percentage body fat. BMI of the participants was assessed in kg/m² according to Asian cut off; 18 - 22.9 kg/m² for normal weight, 23 - 24.9 kg/m² for overweight & ≥ 25 kg/m² for obesity [7] [30] . Waist circumference of the participants was assessed in centimeters (cm) according to Asian cut off; <90 cms for (average to moderate risk) and ≥90 cms for (moderate to severe risk) [7] [30] . Percentage body fat was measured as a continuous variable as it has no specified cut offs [31] . The duration of occupational exposures was assessed (in hours/day) with a cutoff of more than 2 hours/day versus ≤2 hours/day [32] .

We performed analysis using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 19.0 & STATA version 12. Descriptive statistics were computed for categorical variables by computing their frequencies and the distribution of quantitative variables was computed by their means and standard deviations. Odds ratio (ORs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported using simple and multiple logistic regression.

All ethical considerations were taken into account. Firstly we obtained approval of the study protocol from Aga Khan University (AKU) ethical review committee (ERC). Permission was also gained from the study center Australian Concept Medical Infertility Centre (ACIMC) Karachi. Before any semen analysis, study was explained to the patients and their consent was obtained for participating as cases or controls. After the completion of the interview the data collector provided each and every participant with an informational brochure about the preventive measures for the possible risk factors for male infertility. For a better understanding of the participants the brochures were translated in Urdu. We reassured complete confidentiality to the study participants. The data was only accessible to the researchers and the responses were reported in group form and no individual case was identified.

The typical profile of an infertile male presenting to ACIMC was of “an educated, obese person, with history of a medical condition exposing him to the risk of developing infertility”.

Obesity is one of the emerging public health problems [7] . The prevalence of obesity is increasing at an alarming level in both developed and developing countries [8] . It is known to have detrimental effects on health risks such as hypertension, cardiac disorders, diabetes and other chronic disorders [7] . But unfortunately the interest in the detrimental effects of obesity on reproductive functions is very recent [11] . Our results support the adverse effect of obesity on semen parameters which is consistent with the findings from other studies [4] [10] [12] - [17] .

Moreover in obese men, it is the aromatization in fatty tissues that increases the estrogen levels leading to hypoandrogenemia and altered semen parameters [33] and it is for this reason why percentage body weight is an ideal parameter to assess deposition of fatty tissue to ascertain obesity. But unfortunately this method of measurement has often not been used because of the complexity of the procedure and the cost of the device bioelectrical impedance analyser (BIA). In our study we were fortunate enough to be able to measure the percentage body fat by the device BIA along with the BMI and waist circumference. All these methods of assessing obesity showed significant association of obesity with male infertility. However, for our final model for multivariable analysis we chose BMI as an indicator for obesity over percentage body fat, because measuring BMI is convenient in a developing country’s setting and can easily be determined at a larger scale by public health personnel [34] .

Moreover literature suggests that obesity is often associated with decreased physical activity [13] . This causes fat deposition not only in the abdominal area and thighs but also in the scrotal area resulting in elevated testicular temperature and disrupting the semen parameters [13] [15] . We assume that in our study cases having a higher educational status and a higher BMI as compared to the controls, may be involved in occupations predisposing them to decreased physical activity which may have further contributed to impairment in the semen parameters.

Furthermore, certain medical conditions such as testicular injury, varicocele, genitourinary infections, constant temperature of >38.5 degree centigrade for 10 - 14 days, and use of medications can expose men to higher risk of infertility [21] [35] - [38] . In our study sample 20 percent of cases as opposed to 8.5% of controls had such conditions. The association between these conditions and infertility was statistically significant in our study which was consistent with the findings from other studies too [15] [39] [40] .

In our study sample, majority of the cases had a higher educational status whereas majority of the controls comparatively had a lower educational status. Evidence from USA too suggests that men seeking infertility treatment compared to those not seeking infertility treatment had a higher educational status of college or above (OR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.4 - 5.0) [34] . In a patriarchal society like ours, women is held responsible for child bearing and bears the burden of being infertile irrespective of who is responsible for the condition and the work up of an infertile couple is primarily focused on the female’s condition [2] [4] . We believe that in our study sample the higher educational status among the cases made them more aware to accept their condition and seek the treatment. In our study sample, controls that were less educated may have been aware of the infertile status of their wives and felt no stigma for being investigated. Unfortunately we did not ask regarding the fertility status of female partners and the type of infertility for which the couple was being investigated i.e. primary or secondary.

Our study revealed an insignificant association between high risk occupational exposures and male infertility; this could be due to the fact that very few of our study subjects were in jobs exposing them to metals, fumes, chemicals and pesticides. However, there is inconsistency of data regarding these exposures in relation to male infertility hence suggesting further exploration of these factors [18] [19] [21] [41] - [45] .

This study indicates that obesity, an emerging public health problem, is an important risk factor for male infertility. It not only increases the risk of hypertension, cardiac disorders, diabetes and other chronic disorders, but also contributes to causing infertility in men. Moreover, our findings also indicated that higher educational status and previous medical conditions were also associated with male infertility.

Therefore, at policy level we recommend that health professionals should be educated about the modifiable risk factors associated with male infertility. Males with previous medical conditions as well as men in general should be made aware of being extra cautious for monitoring their body weight by increasing their physical activities. This may help in the restoration of the natural fertility with minimal expenses thereby reducing the economic and psychological burden on the society.

Furthermore, genetic abnormalities in sperms increase the failure rates of treatment by ART, hence this indicates a desperate need of exploration of these factors.

NZ: was the principle investigator of the study and conducted this study as a part of her MSc Epidemiology & Biostatistics thesis project. She carried out the study conception, design, data analysis, interpretation of data and drafted the manuscript.

SS: Professor at the Department of Community Health Sciences Aga khan University Karachi, Pakistan was the thesis supervisor, she has made substantial contribution in conception and design, interpretation of data, has been involved in drafting the manuscript and revising it critically and has given final approval of the version to be published.

IA: Assistant Professor at the Department of Community Aga Khan University Karachi, Pakistan was the thesis committee member. He has made substantial contributions to conception and design, sample size estimation, data analysis and interpretation of data and has given final approval of the version to be published.

TM: Professor at the Department of Pathology Aga Khan University Karachi, Pakistan was the thesis committee members. He has made contribution in the conception of the study and has given final approval of the version to be published.

All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Grant for this study was provided by Aga Khan University Community Health Sciences Department Student Fund. We thank all the research staff for their assistance. We specially acknowledge Dr Romaina Iqbal (Associate professor at the Department of Community Health Sciences, AKUH) for providing us with the Bioelectrical Impedance Analyzer. We are also grateful to Mr Mohammad Tahir (Senior Embryologist at ACIMC) for his cooperation throughout the study period.

NidaZahid,SarahSaleem,IqbalAzam,TariqMoatter, (2015) Association of Obesity with Infertility among Pakistani Men: A Case Control Study. Open Journal of Epidemiology,05,204-215. doi: 10.4236/ojepi.2015.53025

(ACIMC) Australian Concept Infertility Medical Centre, (BMI) Body Mass Index, (aOR)Adjusted Odds Ratio, (MHS) Metroville Health Study, (E2) Estradiol, (SHBG) Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin, (IUI) Intrauterine Insemination, (IVF) In Vitro Fertilization, (ICSI) Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, (AKU) The Aga Khan University, (ERC) Ethical Review Committee, (WHO) World Health Organization, (SPSS) Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, (ORs) Odds ratio, (CIs) Confidence intervals, (BIA) Bioelectrical impedance analyser, (ART) artificial reproductive techniques, (ESHRE) European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.