AIMS AND OBJECTIVE:

To correlate ovarian response to stimulation and IVF outcome according to the women's body mass index (BMI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Records of all patients who underwent IVF cycle in our institution from January 2008 to October 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. Three hundred and twenty-eight patients underwent 342 in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and were divided into four subgroups according to BMI; underweight, BMI < 18.5; normal weight, 18.5-24.9; overweight, 25.0-29.9; and obese, >30.0.

RESULTS:

In our study, with increasing BMI negative co-relation was seen with clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) (P value = 0.040). Increased doses of gonadotropins were required with increase in patients BMI (P value = 0.045). In the present study, no difference was seen in the number of oocyte retrieved but a decreased fertilization and cleavage rate was seen with decreased number of cryo-preserved embryos with increasing BMI. This study shows that poorer oocyte quality is seen with increasing BMI which results in reduced CPR. In our study no deleterious effect of low BMI was seen on IVF outcome and CPR.

CONCLUSION:

Female obesity impairs IVF outcome potentially by impairing oocyte quality but does not affect ovarian response to stimulation.