Infertility and weight reduction: influence and outcome.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of weight reduction in obese infertile women on conception rate spontaneously as well as with ovulation induction and pregnancy outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Observational experimental study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Different private clinics at Mirpurkhas, Thana Bola Khan and Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan, from March 2008 to February 2011. METHODOLOGY: Infertile women who were obese with the body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/ m2 and failed to conceive within 2 - 5 years after taking treatment of infertility for many cycles were inducted. These women underwent life style change program related to exercise and diet for 6 months and in the next 6 months they were observed for spontaneous conception. Those women who failed to conceive were prescribed ovulation induction (clomifene citrate) for the next 6 months and were observed for conception. After conception, they visited regularly during antenatal period till delivery. The data was collected and analyzed on SPSS version 17. RESULTS: The mean decrease in the body index observed was 9.6 ± 1.23 kg/m2, spontaneous conception rate was (n = 35, 41.17%) and miscarriage rate was (n = 9, 16.66%). CONCLUSION: Weight reduction leads to high spontaneous conception rate as well as with ovulation induction therapy and improves the pregnancy outcome.