Does body mass index compromise assisted reproductive technique outcomes? A cross-sectional study

Background: Overweight and obese people face several health problems. Female obesity has been shown to reduce fertility in the general population. Assisted reproductive technology outcomes in obese cases are widely studied, but the results are inconclusive. Objective: This study aimed to compare live birth rate (LBR) among women with ۴ different types of body mass index (BMI). Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data of ۱۶۱۱ women, who were candidates for fresh and frozen embryo transfer cycles, was extracted from ۲۰۵۱ medical files at the Reproductive Sciences Institute, Yazd, Iran from May ۲۰۱۹-May ۲۰۲۱. The participants were divided into ۴ groups (underweight, normal, overweight, and obese) according to their BMI, and LBR was considered to be the main outcome. Results: Of ۱۶۱۱ women, ۳۹ were underweight, ۵۸۵ were normal, ۶۷۶ were overweight, and ۳۱۱ were obese. Underweight women had the lowest LBR (۱۲.۸%), but there was no statistically significant difference (p = ۰.۵۵). In addition, LBR was compared in the ۴ BMI groups according to age, type of transfer cycle (fresh or freeze), and cause of infertility, and there was comparable LBR in the ۴ BMI groups. However, metaphase ۲ oocyte rate, doses of gonadotropin usage in the cycles, and estradiol level had statistically significant differences (p < ۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: According to our study, obesity does not affect LBR in the IVF cycle, regardless of fresh or frozen embryo transfer cycles, different age groups, and causes of infertility.

Keywords:

Body mass index , Assisted reproductive technique , Pregnancy outcome , Live birth rate , Age. , شاخص توده بدنی , فناوری کمک باروری , نتایج حاملگی , میزان تولد زنده , سن.