Research
Mixed
Bariatric surgery (RYGB, sleeve gastrectomy) does not result in clinically significant improvements in semen volume, sperm concentration, morphology, or DNA damage in men with obesity.
Do not expect bariatric surgery to improve your fertility. While it helps with weight, studies show it does not significantly improve sperm quality or DNA integrity. If fertility is a priority, lifestyle changes are a more reliable first step.
LimitedRefutesLOW confidence
Random-effects meta-analyses of pre-post outcomes identified no clinically significant semen parameters or DNA damage changes following bariatric surgery.
Why this rating
Based on 18 studies, but GRADE quality was 'Very Low' due to heterogeneity and lack of controls.
Source
The effect of obesity interventions on male fertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Andrew Peel et al. · Human Reproduction Update · 2025
DOI 10.1093/humupd/dmaf025
Meta-analysis · 32 studiesCited 6×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
Related findings · Mixed
- Bariatric surgery (VSG and RYGB) is the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity, producing marked and sustained weight loss that non-surgical interventions cannot match.Strong
- Severely protein-deficient diets (2–3% energy) induce lean body mass loss and metabolic imbalance, whereas adequate protein intake (0.66 g/kg/d minimum) is a prerequisite for maintaining muscle, bone, and physiological function.Strong
- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →