Gonadotrophins i-checksum="35708" ends

BJOG. 2006 Oct;113(10):1195-202. Epub 2006 Aug 10.

The influence of body weight on response to ovulation induction with gonadotrophins in 335 women with World Health Organization group II anovulatory infertility.

Authors:

Balen AH,Platteau P,Andersen AN,Devroey P,Sorensen P,Helmgaard L,Arce JC.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK. adam.balen@leedsth.nhs.uk

Objectives:

To assess the influence of body weight on the outcome of ovulation induction in women with World Health Organization (WHO) group II anovulatory infertility.

Design:

The combined results of two studies in which either a highly purified urinary follicle-stimulating hormone or highly purified urinary menotrophin were compared with recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone.

Setting:

Thirty-six fertility clinics.

Population:

A total of 335 women with WHO group II anovulatory infertility failing to ovulate or conceive on clomiphene citrate.

Methods:

Ovarian stimulation using a low-dose step-up protocol.

Settings, Design and Main Outcome Measures:

The effects of body weight on ovarian response, ovulation rate and pregnancy rate after one treatment cycle.

Results:

With increasing body mass index (BMI), a higher threshold dose of gonadotrophins was required and there were more days of stimulation; yet, despite a greater concentration of antral follicles, there were fewer intermediate and large follicles. There was no difference in the rates of ovulation and clinical pregnancy in relation to body weight.

Conclusions:

Body weight affects gonadotrophin requirements but not overall outcome of ovulation induction in women with anovulatory polycystic ovary syndrome and a BMI of less than 35 kg/m2.