Body mass index and Ovarian response in an In-Vitro Fertilization Cycle

Background: In-vitro fertilization (IVF) has established its place in the management of infertility cases that has defied conventional treatment. A successful In-vitro fertilization outcome is based on a good ovarian response to gonadotrophin stimulation. Body mass index has been identified as one factor that can affect ovarian response however; there is no consensus about its impact outcome.Objectives: To determine the effect of body mass index (BMI) on ovarian response in an Invitro fertilization cycle.Method: A Prospective cohort study to determine the response to Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation (COH) in women with normal and abnormal BMI in an IVF cycle. One hundred and four (104) consenting women undergoing non-donor IVF cycles in a university teaching hospital were recruited for the study. Selected participants had their body mass indices (BMI) assessed and classified into 3 groups: Normal weight (18.5-24.9kg/m2), overweight (25-29.9kg/m2) and obese (≥30kg/m2). There were no underweight women-BMI <18.5kg/m2. All the participants had Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation with the long agonist protocol.Selected participants had follicular count assessed using a transvaginal sonography on day 3, 5, 10 and at retrieval. The effect of ovarian response with the IVF treatment assessed based on total number of follicles and oocyte yield on the day of retrieval.Results: Female participants with normal weight women were thirty-six (34.6%), overweight were forty (38.5%) and obese, twenty-eight (26.9%). There was no statistical significant difference when the ages of women at presentation, total gonadotrophins requirements, duration of stimulation and number of oocytes retrieved were compared in the three groups.Conclusion: Increase in body mass index does not appear to have an adverse effect on ovarian response in an In-vitro fertilization cycle._________________________________________________________________________Keywords: body mass index, infertility, ovarian stimulation, gonadotrophins, IVF cycle