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Physically active men show better semen parameters and hormone values than sedentary men

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Abstract

Physical exercise promotes many health benefits. The present study was undertaken to assess possible semen and hormone differences among physically active (PA) subjects and sedentary subjects (SE). The analyzed qualitative sperm parameters were: volume, sperm count, motility, and morphology; where needed, additional testing was performed. The measured hormones were: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), cortisol (C), and the ratio between T and C (T/C). Maximum oxygen consumption was also assessed to check for differences in fitness level. Statistically significant differences were found for several semen parameters such as total progressive motility (PA: 60.94 ± 5.03; SE: 56.07 ± 4.55) and morphology (PA: 15.54 ± 1.38, SE: 14.40 ± 1.15). The seminological values observed were supported by differences in hormones, with FSH, LH, and T being higher in PA than in SE (5.68 ± 2.51 vs. 3.14 ± 1.84; 5.95 ± 1.11 vs. 5.08 ± 0.98; 7.68 ± 0.77 vs. 6.49 ± 0.80, respectively). Likewise, the T/C ratio, index of anabolic versus catabolic status, was also higher in PA (0.46 ± 0.11 vs. 0.32 ± 0.07), which further supports the possibility of an improved hormonal environment. The present study shows that there are differences in semen and hormone values of physically active subjects and sedentary subjects. Physically active subjects seem to have a more anabolic hormonal environment and a healthier semen production.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Jose R Gomez-Puerto, Dr. Bernardo H Viana-Montaner and BS Gianni Curti for their help and suggestions in the manuscript preparation.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Morphological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Córdoba, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n 14071, Córdoba, Spain

    Diana Vaamonde & Ricardo Vaamonde-Lemos

  2. Andalusian Center of Sports Medicine and Scientific Sport Association, Córdoba, Spain

    Marzo Edir Da Silva-Grigoletto

  3. Department of Physical Education, School of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

    Juan Manuel García-Manso

  4. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Oh, USA

    Natalibeth Barrera

Authors
  1. Diana Vaamonde
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  2. Marzo Edir Da Silva-Grigoletto
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  3. Juan Manuel García-Manso
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  4. Natalibeth Barrera
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  5. Ricardo Vaamonde-Lemos
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Correspondence to Diana Vaamonde.

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Communicated by Susan A. Ward.

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Vaamonde, D., Da Silva-Grigoletto, M.E., García-Manso, J.M. et al. Physically active men show better semen parameters and hormone values than sedentary men. Eur J Appl Physiol 112, 3267–3273 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2304-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2304-6

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