We have said it before and now a new study in the July 2011 edition of Obstetrics & Gynecology again confirms it: obesity has an adverse effect on the chance of IVF success.
They reviewed the records of 1,721 women undergoing their first IVF cycle with their own eggs. Women with a normal BMI were compared with women with class II obesity (BMI 35-39.9) and class III obesity (BMI >40). They found lower numbers of fertilized eggs and lower peak estrogen levels when correcting for age and numbers of eggs. Most importantly women with class III obesity had a 50% lower clinical pregnancy and live birth rate.
The message here is simple and clear: it is advisable for women to maintain a normal weight before, during and after attempting to conceive. For further information on lifestyle issues see our Lifestyle & Fertility pages.