Effect of male and female body mass index on pregnancy and live birth success after in vitro fertilization

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effects of both male and female body mass index (BMI), individually and combined, on IVF outcomes. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: University fertility center. Patient(s): All couples undergoing first fresh IVF cycles, 2005–2010, for whom male and female weight and height information were available (n=721 couples). Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Embryologic parameters, clinical pregnancy, and live birth incidence. Result(s): The average male BMI among the study population was 27.5±4.8 kg/m2 (range, 17.3–49.3 kg/m2), while the average female BMI (n=721) was 25.2±5.9 kg/m2 (range, 16.2–50.7 kg/m2). Neither male nor female overweight (25–29.9 kg/m2), class I obese (30–34.9 kg/m2), or class II/III obese (≥35 kg/m2) status was significantly associated with fertilization rate, embryo score, or incidence of pregnancy or live birth compared with normal weight (18.5–24.9 kg/m2) status after adjusting for male and female age, partner BMI, and parity. Similar null findings were found between combined couple BMI categories and IVF success. Conclusion(s): Our findings support the notion that weight status does not influence fecundity among couples undergoing infertility treatment. Given the limited and conflicting research on BMI and pregnancy success among IVF couples, further research augmented to include other adiposity measures is needed.

Obesity, energy balance and spermatogenesis

“…In addition, this study also highlighted that male obesity has a possible deleterious effect on the chances of achieving live birth after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment. However, a recent study enrolling 8490 couples who underwent in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or ICSI showed no significant effect of the male partner BMI on live birth rate (Zhu et al 2015), which is in agreement with the findings of a prospective study in 721 couples undergoing infertility treatment (Schliep et al 2015). Nonetheless, this study suggested that the BMI of the father influences the sex ratio of the offspring by raising the probability to give birth to male singletons with increased BMI (Zhu et al 2015).…”

Demographic characteristics and AMH levels in rural and urban women participating in an IVF programme

“…Similar to the issue of smoking, there are conflicting research resultss concerning BMI and IVF in published literature [39][40][41][42].…”

The Impact of Body Mass Index on ART Outcomes of High-Responders: Prospective Cohort Study

“…[1][2][3] However, these associations are not confirmed in those undergoing assisted reproductive technology. 4,5 Recent metaanalyses demonstrated that obese patients yield lower number of oocytes, require higher gonadotropins and are more likely to have cancelled cycles during ART cycles. [4][5][6] A group of individuals defined as high-responders demonstrate slightly different hormonal dynamics with a prevalance estimated to be around 7%.…”

“…4,5 Recent metaanalyses demonstrated that obese patients yield lower number of oocytes, require higher gonadotropins and are more likely to have cancelled cycles during ART cycles. [4][5][6] A group of individuals defined as high-responders demonstrate slightly different hormonal dynamics with a prevalance estimated to be around 7%. 7 The high-responder definition is actually based on high basal antral follicle count (AFC) or elevated serum Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) levels.…”