Effects of Bariatric Surgeries on Male and Female Fertility: A Systematic Review

Morbid obesity has been known to decrease fertility in both men and women. This review aimed to examine current evidence of the effects of bariatric surgeries on fertility parameters including sex hormones in both men and women, seminal outcomes in men, menstrual cycle, PCOS symptoms, and pregnancy in women, and sexual function in both men and women.

Three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Academic Search Premier) were used with key terms of bariatric surgery, bariatric surgical procedures, infertility, reproductive health, pregnancy, and fertility. Studies with male and/or female patients were included. Study types included retrospective chart reviews, observational, qualitative, cross-sectional, cohort, and longitudinal studies published in January 2008–June 2018. The search was performed on June 21-26, 2018. Quality assessment and data synthesis were conducted.

A total of 18 articles were included in the final review. Seven studies included only men, ten included only women, and one included both men and women. Bariatric surgery significantly improved hormonal balance and sexual functions in both males and females, sperm count in males, and pregnancy in females. The strongest evidence was found on bariatric surgery’s effects on sex hormones. No study with males asked whether the participants actually conceived a child with their partners after the bariatric surgery. Most weaknesses in all articles reviewed were lack of discussion on confounding variables and many did not differentiate surgical types.

Bariatric surgery most effectively improved sex hormones. Further research is needed on direct pregnancy outcomes for both men and women.