Overweight and obesity adversely affect outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies in polycystic ovary syndrome patients

Overweight and obesity may have negative impact on IVF/ICSI treatment outcomes. However, it is not clear whether overweight and obesity have impact on IVF/ICSI outcomes in PCOS patients. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of overweight and obesity on IVF/ICSI treatment outcomes in PCOS patients treated with GnRH agonist long protocol. This retrospective study was conducted in a reproductive medicine center from January 2009 to June 2013. IVF/ICSI characteristics and outcomes were analyzed in 688 PCOS patients according to their BMI. A total of 409 normal weight patients (group A, 18.5 kg/m(2) <= BMI <24 kg/m(2)) and 279 overweight and obese patients (group B, BMI >= 24 kg/m(2)) were included into this study. Patient age, basal FSH, basal LH and peak E2 concentration were comparable in the two groups. Compared with patients in group A, patients in group B had similar number of retrieved oocytes, 2PN, and high quality embryos. However, overweight and obese women needed more ampoules of gonadotrophin and longer days of stimulation. In addition, the implantation rate (38.3% vs. 35.6%; P=0.000) was also higher in normal weight patients. Overweight and obese women seemed to have lower clinical pregnancy rate (56.9% vs. 53.4%; P>0.05), but the difference was not statistically significant. In conclusion, overweight and obesity is associated with unfavorable IVF/ICSI outcomes in PCOS patients treated with GnRH agonist long protocol.