Global research trends on the impact of obesity on male infertility: a bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND

The parallel rise in global obesity and the decline in male fertility have driven research into their causal relationship. While obesity is recognized as a systemic metabolic disorder, the mechanisms by which it impairs male reproduction remain complex. Tracking progress in this field can inform future research directions.

METHODS

On January 10, 2026, a literature search on the topic of Obesity and Male Infertility was conducted using two databases, including Web of Science and Scopus. Key publication information, including complete records and references, was extracted from both databases. After merging and cleaning the data from both databases, bibliometric analysis was performed using tools such as CiteSpace and VOSviewer.

RESULTS

The analysis shows exponential growth in the field, with 2012 marking a key shift from niche exploration to mainstream inquiry. China leads in publication volume, but the United States holds greater citation impact and network centrality. A multi-polar institutional network centers on Harvard University, the University of Copenhagen, and the University of Adelaide. Fertility and Sterility and Andrologia are the most influential journals by impact and volume, respectively. Chavarro and Eisenberg published the most, while Boeri, Montorsi, and Salonia emerged as key collaborators. Current research focuses on four interconnected areas: oxidative stress-driven sperm DNA damage; the gut-testis axis and metabolic immune regulation; paternal epigenetic inheritance and transgenerational effects; and multidimensional intervention approaches.

CONCLUSION

This study comprehensively maps the global research landscape of obesity and male infertility, tracing the field's evolution and identifying emerging frontiers. These insights point toward new directions for future research and offer a deeper understanding of the field.