Impact of Body Mass Index on IVF Success in Women with Endometriosis
Background on BMI and Fertility
Recent research investigates whether a higher body mass index (BMI) in women with endometriosis affects the likelihood of success following in vitro fertilization (IVF). It is commonly recognized that overweight and obese women experience lower pregnancy rates after IVF. Studies indicate that women with elevated BMI tend to have reduced levels of intrafollicular human chorionic gonadotrophin, which correlates with diminished embryo quality and lower pregnancy rates.
Obesity and Infertility Treatment Trends
Despite the rising prevalence of obesity, the proportion of obese women seeking infertility treatment is notably lower than that of their non-obese counterparts. Furthermore, endometriosis is a significant contributor to infertility in women, and research shows an inverse relationship between BMI and the incidence of endometriosis; specifically, obese women are less likely to be diagnosed with this condition.
Study Hypothesis and Design
To address these findings, a recent study aimed to determine whether a higher BMI in non-obese women with endometriosis enhances the chances of conception following IVF. The results were published in BMC Women’s Health. The research involved 156 women diagnosed with endometriosis as the sole infertility factor, divided into three BMI categories: underweight (BMI < 18.5), normal weight (BMI 18.5–24.9), and overweight (BMI 25–29.9). Participants underwent ovarian stimulation protocols, and eggs were harvested via ultrasound-guided aspiration 35 hours after triggering. Fertilized embryos were transferred back into the participants' uteri after two, three, or five days.
Findings and Observations
The study’s outcomes showed that underweight women constituted 10.3%, normal weight women 71.2%, and overweight women 18.6% of the population analyzed. Additionally, the research noted that higher grades of endometriosis were more prevalent among patients with lower BMIs. Importantly, there were no significant differences observed in the number of retrieved eggs, egg quality, embryo generation, or pregnancy rates—biochemical, clinical, and ongoing—across the various weight categories. Consequently, the findings do not support the hypothesis that higher BMIs improve fertility outcomes in non-obese women with endometriosis, and an increase in BMI did not adversely affect fertility results.
Recommendations for Future Research
In light of these findings, the authors advocate for further large-scale or case-controlled studies to explore these questions in depth. Such research could provide valuable insights into the optimal BMI that women should aim for before undergoing IVF procedures.
References
1. Maheshwari A, Stofberg L, Bhattacharya S. Effect of overweight and obesity on assisted reproductive technology–a systematic review. Hum Reprod Update. 2007 Sep-Oct;13(5):433-44. Epub 2007 Jun 21. Review. PubMed PMID: 17584821.
2. Carrell DT, Jones KP, Peterson CM, Aoki V, Emery BR, Campbell BR. Body mass index is inversely related to intrafollicular HCG concentrations, embryo quality and IVF outcome. Reprod Biomed Online. 2001;3(2):109-111. PubMed PMID: 12513872.
3. Garalejic E, Arsic B, Radakovic J, Bojovic Jovic D, Lekic D, Macanovic B, Soldatovic I, Perovic M. A preliminary evaluation of influence of body mass index on in vitro fertilization outcome in non-obese endometriosis patients. BMC Womens Health. 2017 Nov 16;17(1):112. doi: 10.1186/s12905-017-0457-0. PubMed PMID: 29145852.