Infertility and weight reduction: influence and outcome.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of weight reduction in obese infertile women on conception rate spontaneously as well as with ovulation induction and pregnancy outcome. STUDY DESIGN Observational experimental study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Different private clinics at Mirpurkhas, Thana Bola Khan and Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan, from March 2008 to February 2011. METHODOLOGY Infertile women who were obese with the body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/ m2 and failed to conceive within 2 - 5 years after taking treatment of infertility for many cycles were inducted. These women underwent life style change program related to exercise and diet for 6 months and in the next 6 months they were observed for spontaneous conception. Those women who failed to conceive were prescribed ovulation induction (clomifene citrate) for the next 6 months and were observed for conception. After conception, they visited regularly during antenatal period till delivery. The data was collected and analyzed on SPSS version 17. RESULTS The mean decrease in the body index observed was 9.6 ± 1.23 kg/m2, spontaneous conception rate was (n = 35, 41.17%) and miscarriage rate was (n = 9, 16.66%). CONCLUSION Weight reduction leads to high spontaneous conception rate as well as with ovulation induction therapy and improves the pregnancy outcome.