Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Obesity and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Outcomes

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Biennial Review of Infertility

  • 572 Accesses

Abstract

Obesity in reproductive age women is com-mon and associated with various serious comorbidities. In women attempting pregnancy, obesity portends an independent risk factor for maternal complications such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, each of which carries its own set of comorbidities. Obesity in in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients has been associated with increased cycle cancellation rates, reduced live birth rates, and increased risk of mis-carriage. Additionally, obese and morbidly obese women are more likely to encounter delivery complications including preterm delivery, fetal macrosomia, increased need for induction of labor, greater utilization of instrumental delivery and a higher risk for emergency cesarean section. We recommend that obese and morbidly obese women should be strongly counseled regarding the importance of weight reduction and offered effective strategies during preconception visits and prior to initiation of infertility workup.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. World Health Organization. Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic, WHO technical report series 894. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hedley AA, Ogden CL, Johnson CL, Carroll MD, Curtin LR, Flegal KM. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among US children, adolescents and adults, 1999–2002. JAMA 2004;291:2847–50.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Flegal KA, Graubard BI, Williamson DF, Gail MH. Excess deaths associated with underweight, overweight, and obesity. JAMA 2005;293:1861–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. LaCoursiere DY, Bloebaum L, Duncan JD, Varner MW. Population-based trends and correlates of maternal overweight and obesity, Utah 1991–2001. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2005;192:832–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology Committee on Obstetric Practice. Obesity in pregnancy: Committee opinion number 315. Obstet Gynecol 2005;106:671–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Cedergren MI. Maternal morbid obesity and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome. Obstet Gynecol 2004;103:219–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Sebire NJ, Jolly M, Harris JP, et al. Maternal obesity and pregnancy outcome: a study of 287,213 pregnancies in London. Int J Obes 2001;25:1175–82.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ehrenberg HM, Mercer BM, Catalano PM. The influence of obesity and diabetes on the prevalence of macrosomia. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2004;191:964–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Anderson JL, Walter K, Canfield MA, Shaw GM, Watkins ML, Werler MM. Maternal obesity, gestational diabetes, and central nervous system birth defects. Epidemiology 2005;16:87–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kristensen J, Vestergaard M, Wisborg K, Kesmodel U, Secher NJ. Pre-pregnancy weight and the risk of stillbirth and neonatal death. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 2005;112:403–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Gesink Law DC, Maclehose RF, Longnecker MP, Obesity and timeto pregnancy. Hum Reprod 2007;22(2):414–20.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Lake JK, Power C, Cole TJ. Child to adult body mass index in the1958 British birth cohort: associations with parental obesity. Arch Dis Child 1997;77(5):376–81

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Ramlau-Hansen CH, Thulstrup AM, Nohr EA, Bonde JP, Sorensen TIA, Olsen J. Subfecundity in overweight and obese couples. Hum Reprod 2007;22:1634–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Pasquali R, Gambineri A, Pagotto U. The impact of obesity on reproduction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. BJOG 2006;113:1148–59.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Teitelman M, Grotegut CA, Williams NN, Lewis JD. The impact of bariatric surgery on menstrual patterns. Obes Surg 2006;16(11):1457–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Heijnen EM, Eijkemans MJ, Hughes EG, Laven JS, Macklon, NS, Fauser, BC. A meta-analysis of outcomes of conventional IVF in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum Reprod Update 2006;12(1):13–21.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Lewis CG, Warnes GM, Wang KJ, Matthews CD. Failure of body mass index or body weight to influence markedly the response to ovarian hyperstimulation in normal cycling women. Fertil Steril 1990;53:1097–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Lashen H, Ledger W, Bernal AL, Barlow D. Extremes of body mass do not adversely affect the outcome of superovulation and in-vitro fertilization. Hum Reprod 1999;14:712–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Spandorfer SD, Kump L, Goldschlag D, et al. Obesity and in vitro fertilization: negative influences on outcome. J Reprod Med 2004;49:973–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Lintsen AME, Pasker-de Jong PCM, de Boer EJ, et al. Effects of subfertility cause, smoking and body weight on the success rate of IVF. Hum Reprod 2005;20:1867–75.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Fedorcsak P, Dale PO, Storeng R, et al. Impact of overweight and underweight on assisted reproduction treatment. Hum Reprod 2004;19:2523–8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Nichols JE, Crane MM, Higdon HL, Miller PB, Boone WR. Extremes of body mass index reduce in vitro fertilization pregnancy rates. Fertil Steril 2003;79(3):645–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Wang JX, Davies M, Norman RJ. Body mass and the probability of pregnancy during assisted reproduction treatment: retrospective study. BMJ 2000;321:1320–1.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Dokras A, Baredziak L, Blaine J, Syrop C, VanVoorhis BJ, Sparks A. Obstetric outcomes after in vitro fertilization in obese and morbidly obese women. Obstet Gynecol 2006;108(1):61–9

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Clinical guidelines on the identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults. The evidence report. Obes Res 1998;6(suppl 2):51S–210S.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Maheshwari A, Stofberg, L, Bhattacharya S. Effect of overweight and obesity on assisted reproductive technology – a systematic review. Hum Reprod Update 2007;13(5):433–44.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Mulders AG, Laven JS, Imani B, Eijkemans MJ, Fauser BC. IVF outcome in anovulatory infertility (WHO group 2) including PCOS-following previous unsuccessful ovulation induction. Reprod Biomed Online 2003;7(1):50–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Steinkampf MP, Hammond KR, Nichols JE, Slayden SH. Effect of obesity on recombinant follicle stimulating hormone absorption: subcutaneous versus imtramuscular administration. Fertil Steril 2003;80(1):99–102.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Dechaud H, Anahory T, Reyftmann L, Loup V, Hamamah S, Hedon B. Obesity does not adversely affect results in patients who are undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2006;127(1):88–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Wang JX, Davies MJ, Norman RJ. Obesity increases the risk of spontaneous abortion during infertility treatment. Obes Res 2002;10:551–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Metwally M, Ong KJ, Ledger WL, Li TC. Does high body mass index increase the risk of miscarriage after spontaneous and assisted conception? A meta-analysis of the evidence. Fertil Steril 2007;90(3):714–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Bellver J, Rossal LP, Bosch E, et al. Obesity and the risk of spontaneous abortion after oocyte donation. Fertil Steril 2003;79:1136–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Winter E, Wang J, Davies MJ, Norman R. Early pregnancy loss following assisted reproductive technology treatment. Hum Reprod 2002;17(12):3220–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Weiss JL, Malone FD, Emig D, et al. Obesity, obstetric complication and cesarean delivery rate – a population-based screening study. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2004; 190:1091–7

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Kabiru W, Raynor BD. Obstetric outcomes associated with increase in BMI category during pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2004;191:928–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Bellver J, Melo MA, Bosch E, Serra V, Remohí J, Pellicer A. Obesity and poor reproductive outcome: the potential role of the endometrium. Fertil Steril 2007;88(2):446–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Onalan R, Onalan G, Tonguc E, Ozdener T, Dogan M, Mollamahmutoglu L. Body mass index is an independent risk factor for the development of endometrial polypsin patients undergoing in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril 2008 Mar 4 [Epub ahead of print].

    Google Scholar 

  38. O’Dowd A. Society issues guidance on IVF. BMJ 2006;333:517.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Dietz WH, Robinson TN. Clinical practice. Overweight children and adolescents. N Engl J Med 2005;352(20):2100–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. ACOG Committee Opinion, Management of obesity. Obstet Gynecol 2005;106(4):895–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Wadden TA, Berkowitz RI, Womble LG, et al. Randomized trial of lifestyle modification and pharmacotherapy for obesity. N Engl J Med 2005;353(20):2111–20.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, 3701 Market St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Anuja Dokras

Authors
  1. Anuja Dokras
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anuja Dokras .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and permissions

    Copyright information

    © 2009 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

    About this chapter

    Cite this chapter

    Dokras, A. (2009). Obesity and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Outcomes. In: Voorhis, B., Schlegel, P., Racowsky, C., Carrell, D. (eds) Biennial Review of Infertility. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-392-3_12

    Download citation

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-392-3_12

    • Published:

    • Publisher Name: Humana Press

    • Print ISBN: 978-1-60327-391-6

    • Online ISBN: 978-1-60327-392-3

    • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

    Publish with us

    Policies and ethics

    Search

    Navigation