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Effect of body mass index on the outcomes of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a multicenter, prospective, observational study

  • Assisted Reproduction Technologies
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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the present study is to explore the influence of body mass index (BMI) on outcomes of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) techniques in Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods

This was a multicenter, prospective, observational study that enrolled 800 subjects with PCOS from nine hospitals in China. Patients were categorized according to BMI categories: underweight, <18.5 kg/m2; normal, 19–23.9 kg/m2; overweight, 24–27.9 kg/m2; and obese, ≥28 kg/m2. Total recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) dose used, estradiol, and progesterone levels on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) day; implantation rate; and biochemical, clinical, and ongoing pregnancy rates were compared among BMI categories. Hormone levels (estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), LH, testosterone, and progesterone) were measured using electrochemiluminescence assays.

Results

Among the 774 subjects, 27.3 % were overweight and 8.1 % were obese. The rFSH dose used differed significantly among BMI categories (P < 0.001). The implantation rate was lower in obese subjects than that in normal-weight subjects (25.3 vs 45.7 %). Clinical pregnancy rate per transfer differed among BMI categories (P = 0.033), but there was no difference for biochemical (P = 0.327) and ongoing (P = 0.084) pregnancy rates. The miscarriage rate was similar among BMI categories.

Conclusions

More than one third of Chinese women with PCOS undergoing IVF/ICSI are overweight or obese. Elevated BMI is associated with reduced clinical pregnancy rate but similar ongoing pregnancy rates, suggesting that BMI has little impact on IVF outcomes.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Merck Serono Co., Ltd. (Grant number EMR700623-530). We thank Wenfeng Chen (principal biostatistician) from Global Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Merck Serono (Beijing) Pharmaceutical R&D Co., Ltd. In addition, we thank all the staffs from research centers for their assistance.

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Correspondence to Zijiang Chen.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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The study was approved by the ethics committees of the participating hospitals.

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All study subjects were fully informed as to the nature of the study and provided written consent for inclusion.

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Capsule Elevated body mass index is associated with reduced clinical pregnancy rate but similar ongoing pregnancy rates.

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Sheng, Y., Lu, G., Liu, J. et al. Effect of body mass index on the outcomes of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a multicenter, prospective, observational study. J Assist Reprod Genet 34, 61–70 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-016-0830-1

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