Do Follicles of Obese Patients Yield Competent Oocytes/Embryos?

Abstract

Aim: This study evaluated the competency of oocytes/embryos derived from follicles >15 mm in diameter from obese patients, compared with nonobese patients. Patients and Methods: A cohort study was conducted in a single tertiary medical center between July 2018 and May 2019. Before ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration, follicles were measured and those with maximal dimensional size >15 mm were tracked. Microscopic examination of the follicular aspirates was performed by an embryologist. Each follicle aspirated was evaluated for oocyte maturation, oocyte fertilization, and embryo quality. Results: 457 follicles were measured: 380 (83.2%) in nonobese and 77 (16.8%) in obese patients. No in-between group differences were observed in the causes of infertility, patients’ demographics, or ovarian stimulation characteristics. Oocytes were achieved during aspiration from 277 (72.8%) and 54 (70.0%) of the nonobese and obese groups, respectively (p = 0.67). No in-between group differences were observed in fertilization (2PN/oocyte), top quality embryo (TQE) per zygote (2PN), and TQE per follicle. Conclusion: Oocyte recovery rate from follicles >15 mm is unrelated to patients’ BMI. Moreover, the oocytes recovered from obese patients are competent yielding comparable zygote and TQE per follicle/oocyte, compared with nonobese patients. Further investigation is required to strengthen this finding.

Effect of Body Mass Index on Ovulation in Nigerian Women With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Undergoing Treatment With Clomiphene Citrate: A Sonographic Study.

“…This reduction in BMI in both the women that underwent clomiphene citrate treatment and control group with successful ovulation explains the finding from a previous study that obese women with PCOS are more likely than thin women with PCOS to suffer from anovulation [18]. Popova et al [19], found that lean women with PCOS treated with metformin had menstrual function (55%) and ovulation (45%) restored more often than obese women with PCOS (only one patient (7%) responded to the treatment), P = 0.018. There was no change in BMI and waist circumference in both groups.…”

“…They concluded that treatment with metformin 1700 mg daily was more effective in lean than in obese women with PCOS. Its efficacy was independent of the initial surrogate markers of resistance to insulin [19].…”