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Live birth outcomes in infertile patients with class III and class IV obesity following fresh embryo transfer

  • Assisted Reproduction Technologies
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Abstract

Objective

Assess the effect of class III (body mass index [BMI, kg/m2] 40–49.9) and class IV obesity (≥ 50) on clinical pregnancy and live birth outcomes after first oocyte retrieval and fresh embryo transfer cycle.

Design

Cohort study

Setting

Academic center

Patients

Patients undergoing their first oocyte retrieval with planned fresh embryo transfer in our clinic between 01/01/2012 and 12/31/2018. Patients were stratified by BMI: 18.5–24.9 (n = 4913), 25–29.9 (n = 1566) 30–34.9 (n = 559), 35–39.9 (n = 218), and ≥ 40 (n = 114).

Intervention

None

Main outcome measure

Live birth rate

Results

Following embryo transfer, there were no differences in pregnancy rates across all BMI groups (p value, linear trend = 0.86). However among pregnant patients, as BMI increased, a significant trend of a decreased live birth rate was observed (p value, test for linear trend = 0.004). Additionally, as BMI increased, a significant trend of an increased miscarriage rate was observed (p value, linear trend = < 0.001). Compared to the normal-weight cohort, women with a BMI ≥ 40 had a significantly higher rate of cancelled fresh transfers after retrieval (18.4% vs. 8.2%, OR 2.51; 95%CI 1.55–4.08). Among singleton deliveries, a significant trend of an increased c-section rate was identified as the BMI increased (p value, linear trend = <0.001).

Conclusion

Overall, patients with a BMI > 40 have worse IVF treatment outcomes compared to normal-weight patients. After embryo transfer, their pregnancy rate is comparable to normal-weight women; however, their miscarriage rate is higher, leading to a lower live birth rate for pregnant women in this population. Patients with a BMI > 40 have a c-section rate that is 50% higher than normal-weight patients.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Alexandra MacWade for her help in proofreading the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical Center, 1305 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Phillip A. Romanski, Pietro Bortoletto, Zev Rosenwaks & Steven D. Spandorfer

  2. Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Brady Magaoay & Alice Chung

Authors
  1. Phillip A. Romanski
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  2. Pietro Bortoletto
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  3. Brady Magaoay
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  4. Alice Chung
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  5. Zev Rosenwaks
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  6. Steven D. Spandorfer
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Correspondence to Steven D. Spandorfer.

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This study was approved by the institutional review board at Weill Cornell Medical College.

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Romanski, P.A., Bortoletto, P., Magaoay, B. et al. Live birth outcomes in infertile patients with class III and class IV obesity following fresh embryo transfer. J Assist Reprod Genet 38, 347–355 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-020-02011-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-020-02011-1

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