Correlation of A Body Shape Index and Body Roundness Index as Novel Anthropometric Indices With Semen Analysis Parameters and IVF Outcomes

Abstract

Obesity-related pathophysiological mechanisms adversely affect human fertility and infertility treatment. Conventional anthropometric indices for assessing obesity poorly differentiate visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). This explains inconsistencies between the studies evaluating the influence of obesity on semen parameters and assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes. A Body Shape Index (ABSI) and body roundness index (BRI) are novel indices that offer better differentiation of VAT and SAT. Our study assessed the correlation between traditional and novel indices with semen parameters and ART outcomes. A cross-sectional study, conducted at a tertiary fertility center from January 2023 to March 2025, encompassed 319 men undergoing ART. They were divided into four groups based on body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), BRI, and ABSI quartiles. Anthropometric indices were measured and correlated with semen parameters (semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, and morphology) and ART outcomes (number of obtained embryos, transferred embryos, frozen embryos, and usable blastocyst development and embryo utilization rates). Our analysis revealed that anthropometric indices correlated differently with semen parameters and ART outcomes. BMI, BRI, and WHtR correlated negatively with semen parameters, whereas WHR and ABSI did not. ABSI negatively correlated with all analyzed ART outcomes, while WHR significantly correlated only with total number of embryos. Traditional anthropometric indices that inform us on general obesity are linked to semen analysis parameters. Novel indices that differentiate VAT and SAT are linked with ART outcomes, suggesting possible epigenetic consequences of increased VAT.