Metabolic Syndrome and Male Fertility: A Mini Review

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that have a negative impact on human health overall. Its prevalence has been rapidly increasing worldwide and has coincided with a global decrease in birth rates and fertility potential. This mini-review aims to address the observation by studying the relationship between Metabolic Syndrome and male reproductive health. The impacts of obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance on male fertility were examined, and supporting evidence explaining the pathophysiology of sperm dysfunction with each Metabolic Syndrome component was described. Adopting a healthy lifestyle appears to be the single most important intervention to prevent the unwanted impacts of Metabolic Syndrome on men’s health and fertility. Further studies addressing the components of Metabolic Syndrome and their impact on male reproduction are required to enhance our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and to propose new methods for therapeutic intervention.