OBJECTIVE:

The aim of the present study was primarily to determine the influence of paternal obesity on pregnancy, implantation, abortion and take home baby rates in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization with ICSI. Secondly, to determine the impact of paternal body mass index (BMI) on semen parameters, fertilization rate and embryo quality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Retrospective, comparative and observational study. 352 cycles of ICSI with embryo transfer were included. They were divided in three groups based on male BMI: Normal (18.5-24.99 kg/m2), overweight (25-29.99 kg/m2), and obesity (≥30 kg/m2).

RESULTS:

Male obesity was associated with a significant increased miscarriage rate when compared with the normal group (39.0 vs 12.9, p = 0.02) and a significantly lower take home baby rate (23.6 vs 38.6, p = 0.04). We also found a lower rate of top quality embryos, without affecting fertilization with ICSI.

CONCLUSION:

Our results demonstrate that even though pregnancy and implantation rates are elevated when ICSI is performed in overweight and obese patients, embryo development, miscarriage and take home baby rates are affected with increased paternal BMI.