Comorbidities and male infertility: A worrisome picture

Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to analyze the current literature concerning health status in the setting of male infertility, taking into account the potential contribution of each comorbidity. Recent findings Latest findings, almost unanimously confirmed how infertile patients usually display a quite precarious health, because of the collection of coexistent diseases observed in these men. More precisely, relevant comorbidities might influence not only man's fertility but his life expectancy as well. Moreover, because of the increasing trend in delaying fatherhood observed in Western countries over time, age might somehow act as a possible detrimental factor. Overall, what emerges from these studies is a complex and worrisome scenario. Summary General health status in the male reproductive setting is gaining increasing clinical attention and relevance. Infertile men appear to be rather unhealthy young men as compared with fertile ones. Therefore, uroandrologists are challenged with the compelling task of assessing the infertile man considering both his general and his reproductive health, since relevant comorbid conditions may influence not only his life expectancy, but his fertility as well.