Keerthana Dhandapani1, Bhagyalakshmi Kodavanji2, Vinodini N.A.3, Priyadarisini N.J.4, Shripad B. Deshpande5
BACKGROUND
Obesity has become an epidemic worldwide. Several mechanisms are involved in
the relationship of fertility and obesity, including metabolic and reproductive
functions. In light of the fact that most of the causes of infertility are treatable,
there is a need to document the diagnostic findings in overweight and obese
infertile women. The causes of infertility prevalent in a particular region can be
provided by hospital-based studies. So, the present study is designed to find out
the common causes of infertility in overweight & obese women and to gain
knowledge regarding the prevalence of primary and secondary infertility among
these infertile women.
METHODS
The data of 115 infertile women (18 to 45 years) were collected from hospitals
under Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Mangalore retrospectively. Data of history
of previous conception, body mass index (BMI), type of infertility, duration of
infertility, age and the causes of infertility were collected. The prevalence of each
cause was evaluated.
RESULTS
Among 115 infertile women, 92 (80 %) were pre–obese and 23 (20 %) were obese
(P - .001). Primary infertility was most common in pre obese women and
secondary infertility in obese women which was statistically significant (P < .05).
Ovulatory dysfunction was the most common cause in obese infertile women (P -
.004), whereas in pre obese women, it was uterine and adnexal causes.
CONCLUSIONS
Comparatively, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can avoid fertility problems in pre
obese women, because the effect of BMI on hypothalamic–pituitary-gonadal
(HPG) axis is higher in obese women in whom ovulatory disorders were the leading
cause. The significance of weight reduction before pregnancy should be informed
to overweight and obese patients and should be aided to lose weight. Treatment
of anaemia itself may resolve the infertility issues and should be taken as a first
line treatment in all cases.
