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. 2001 Jul;18(7):382–386. doi: 10.1023/A:1016622506479

Clinical Assisted Reproduction: Increased Body Mass Index Has a Deleterious Effect on In Vitro Fertilization Outcome

J B Loveland 1, Howard D McClamrock 1, Andrew M Malinow 2, Fady I Sharara 1
PMCID: PMC3455823  PMID: 11499322

Abstract

Purpose: Few studies have addressed the effect of weight on IVF outcome, with some showing a decrease in IVF success and some showing no change in overweight women (BMI > 25 kg/m2) compared to women with normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2).

Methods: One hundred thirty-nine women <40 years old undergoing 180 IVF cycles with fresh embryo transfers were retrospectively evaluated between January 1997 and March 1999, stratified by body mass index (BMI) (cutoff of 25).

Results: In the group with BMI > 25 kg/m2, basal FSH, implantation rates (IR), and pregnancy rates (PR) were significantly lower, while the duration of stimulation, gonadotropin requirements, and spontaneous miscarriages were slightly higher, compared to the BMI ≤ 25 group.

Conclusions: Excess weight defined as BMI > 25 kg/m2 has a negative impact on IVF outcome. Future prospective studies evaluating oocyte and/or embryo quality, and androgen and insulin levels, between overweight women and those with normal weight are needed.

Keywords: BMI, implantation rate, IVF, obesity, pregnancy rate

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