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The Potential Role of Intragastric Balloon in the Treatment of Obese-Related Infertility: Personal Experience

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Abstract

The prevalence of people who are overweight or obese has increased dramatically in high-income countries over the past 20 years. There is a strong association between obesity and infertility, and weight loss can result in increased fecundity in obese women. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the potential role of intragastric balloon in the treatment of obese-related infertility. This is a retrospective study. A chart review of 27 obese women seen between September 2003 and July 2008 was performed. They all presented with the diagnosis of infertility and had undergone endoscopic intragastric balloon positioning. Among these women who tried unsuccessfully to become pregnant before weight loss, 15 became pregnant afterward. The pregnancies proceeded without complications and ended with live births. An improvement in the fertility status after weight loss has been described, although data on fertility after weight loss following bariatric surgery are still limited. The results obtained in our experience are not different from data reported in literature for bariatric surgery. Therefore, balloon treatment might be effective in young infertile obese women who wish to become pregnant.

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Conflict of Interest Statement

All authors certify that there is no conflict of interest with any financial organization regarding the material discussed in the manuscript

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Orthopedic, Traumatology and Emergency, University of Naples “Federico II”, via S. Pansini 5, 80133, Naples, Italy

    Mario Musella, Marco Milone, Marcello Bellini, Miguel Emilio Sosa Fernandez, Loredana Maria Sosa Fernandez, Maddalena Leongito & Francesco Milone

  2. Viale Raffaello 15, 80129, Napoli, Italy

    Marco Milone

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  1. Mario Musella
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  2. Marco Milone
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  3. Marcello Bellini
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  4. Miguel Emilio Sosa Fernandez
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  7. Francesco Milone
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Correspondence to Marco Milone.

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Musella, M., Milone, M., Bellini, M. et al. The Potential Role of Intragastric Balloon in the Treatment of Obese-Related Infertility: Personal Experience. OBES SURG 21, 426–430 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-010-0167-2

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