Sperm morphology normalcy is inversely correlated to cycling kilometers in elite triathletes

Sperm morphology normalcy is inversely correlated to cycling kilometers in elite triathletes La normalidad de la morfologia espermatica esta inversamente correlacionada con los kilometros de ciclismo en triatletas de elite Resumen Purpose. This study aims to assess the relationship between the amount of weekly training volume covered by triathletes as part of their regular training and the percentage of sperm exhibiting normal morphology (sperm morphology). Methods. Semen values of 15 male triathletes, competing both at national and international level were assessed. All subjects were required to have participated in the Ironman competition and had to had completed it. A detailed assessment of training volume for each modality triathletes undergo was performed. Morphology assessment was performed following Krugers strict criteria. Correlation studies were performed to verify the relation between weekly training volume (total and for each modality) and sperm morphology. Results. Detailed training assessment revealed the following weekly values (mean ± SD) for the three modalities triathletes practice: running: 49.42 ± 7.37 km, swimming: 11.31± 3.05 km, cycling: 330.77 ± 56.04 km. Sperm morphology values showed a statistical inverse correlation (r = -0.71; p < 0.01) with cycling weekly volume. Subjects with less than 4% of normal forms, considered as poor prognosis pattern, were systematically covering over 300 km/week. Conclusion. There is a high inverse correlation between sperm morphology (percentage of normal forms) and the weekly volume of cycling in triathletes. It can concluded, therefore, that a high cycling volume, especially above 300 km/week, is detrimental to sperm morphology, and may even lead to a serious impairment of male fertility. Resumen Objetivo. El presente estudio tiene por objetivo evaluar la relacion existente entre el volumen semanal de entrenamiento realizado por los triatletas, como parte de su entrenamiento habitual, y el porcentaje de espermatozoides que exhiben una morfologia normal (morfologia espermatica). Metodos. Los valores de 15 triatletas varones, que compiten tanto nacional como internacionalmente, fueron evaluados. Todos los sujetos debian haber participado en la prueba Ironman y haberla completado. Se realizo un analisis detallado del volumen de entrenamiento realizado en cada modalidad. La evaluacion morfologica se llevo a cabo siguiendo los criterios estrictos de Kruger. Los estudios de correlacion se realizaron para verificar la relacion entre el volumen semanal de entrenamiento (total y para cada modalidad) y la morfologia espermatica. Resultados. La evaluacion detallada del entrenamiento revelo los siguientes valores (media ± desviacion estandar) para las tres modalidades que practican los triatletas: carrera 49,42 ± 7,37 km; natacion 11,31 ± 3,05 km y ciclismo 330,77 ± 56,04 km. Los valores de normalidad de morfologia espermatica mostraron una correlacion estadistica inversa (r = -0,71; p < 0,01) con el volumen de ciclismo. Los sujetos que tenian menos del 4% de formas normales, considerados con pronostico pobre, realizaban sistematicamente mas de 300 km/semana. Conclusion. Existe una alta correlacion inversa entre el porcentaje de espermatozoides con morfologia normal y el volumen semanal de ciclismo en los triatletas. Se puede concluir, por tanto, que un alto volumen de ciclismo, especialmente por encima de los 300 km/semana, es perjudicial para la morfologia espermatica y puede llevar a un serio impedimento en la fertilidad masculina. Keywords Ciclismo, Morfologia espermatica, Infertilidad Palabras clave Cycling, Sperm morphology, Infertility