Metabolic syndrome behind 23% of male infertility cases in India

Low testosterone levels, high fasting insulin, increased BMI or waist size, and high levels of oxidative stress are a few early warning signs of metabolic syndrome, says Dr Gauri Agarwal, IVF specialist and founder of Seeds of Innocens, in an interview with Ashish Srivastav.

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How is metabolic syndrome contributing to the rise in male infertility cases in India? Metabolic syndrome, which includes problems like obesity, high blood pressure, high sugar, and abnormal cholesterol, is becoming a major reason for male infertility in India. It affects hormone levels, damages sperm, and harms the testicles, leading to issues like low sperm count, poor sperm movement, and, in some cases, no sperm at all. Studies show that about 23% of men from infertile couples in India have metabolic syndrome, and only 25% of Indian men meet normal semen standards. Male-related problems now cause around 40 to 50% of infertility cases in the country.