Burdens and awareness of adverse self‐reported lifestyle factors in men with sub‐fertility: A cross‐sectional study in 1149 men.

Background: There are no current pharmacological therapies to improve sperm quality in men with sub‐fertility. Reducing the exposure to lifestyle risk factor (LSF) is currently the only intervention for improving sperm quality in men with sub‐fertility. No previous study has investigated what proportion of men with sub‐fertility are exposed to adverse lifestyle factors. Furthermore, it is not known to what extent men with sub‐fertility are aware of lifestyle factors potentially adversely impacting their fertility. Methods: A cross‐sectional anonymous questionnaire‐based study on self‐reported exposure and awareness of LSF was conducted in 1149 male partners of couples investigated for sub‐fertility in a tertiary andrology centre in London, UK. Results: Seventy per cent of men investigated for sub‐fertility had ≥1 LSF, and twenty‐nine per cent had ≥2 LSF. Excessive alcohol consumption was the most common LSF (40% respondents). Seventeen per cent of respondents used recreational drugs (RD) regularly, but only 32% of RD users believed RD impair male fertility. Twenty‐five per cent of respondents were smokers, which is higher than the UK average (20%). Twenty‐seven per cent of respondents had a waist circumference (WC) >36 inches (91 cm), and 4% had WC >40 inches (102 cm). Seventy‐nine per cent of respondents wanted further lifestyle education to improve their fertility. Conclusions: Our data suggest that men with sub‐fertility are as follows: (a) exposed to one or more LSF; (b) have incomplete education about how LSF may cause male sub‐fertility; (c) want more education about reducing LSF. Further studies are needed to investigate the potential of enhanced education of men about LSF to treat couples with sub‐fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]