Retrospective study finds higher body mass index reduces oocyte yield and pregnancy rates in women undergoing in vitro fertilization, suggesting metabolic factors impair assisted reproduction.
Obesity is one of the most common diseases that affects hormonal metabolism and can affect female fertility. The aim of our work is to determine the relationship between the body mass index and parameters reflecting the course and outcome of in vitro fertilization. The study retrospectively analyzed the data of 72 women (age 33.43±0.64 years) undergoing IVF at the Moscow Regional Perinatal Center (MO, Balashikha). IVF parameters included: the number of stimulation days, the total dose of gonadotropins, the total number of oocytes and the number of oocytes suitable for fertilization, fertilization index, cleavage index, blastocyst frequency, pregnancy. In addition, sperm parameters were taken into account (volume, sperm concentration, total number of motile forms, proportion of sperm with full structure). The results of statistical analysis showed the presence of a pronounced positive correlation between BMI and the number of days of ovarian function stimulation (r=0.37; p=0.002), BMI and the total dose of the inducer (r=0.389; p=0.001). As BMI increased, the total number of oocytes retrieved during transvaginal puncture decreased (r=-0.312; p<0.05), as well as the number of oocytes suitable for fertilization (r=-0.29; p<0.05). The effect of BMI on the processes of embryo cleavage and development was not pronounced. As shown by the results of the analysis of variance, the BMI in women who did not become pregnant as a result of IVF was significantly higher than in those who did (25.6±0.69 kg/m2 versus 23.4±0.54 kg/m2; F=6.41; p=0.013). Analysis of the results of logistic regression showed that BMI has a significantly (χ2 =6.20; p=0.012) negative effect on the outcome of IVF (as evidenced by the odds ratio of 0.8278). Statistical analysis showed that sperm properties are not a confounding factor and can be ignored when analyzing the relationship between BMI and IVF parameters. Our data indicate a significant effect of BMI on the parameters of IVF outcome, which may be associated with hormonal regulation disorders and chronic inflammatory processes.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Dimitriev Da (2025) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: