Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Introduction: Obesity can be defined as an excessive amount of body fat leading to physical ill health or adverse effects on socioeconomic or psychological well being. Obesity can be classified according to BMI which is defined as the weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of height (in meters). PCOS is one of the most common causes of infertility due to anovulation in women. The clinical features of PCOS are heterogeneous and may change throughout the lifespan, starting from adolescence to post- menopausal age. Obesity affects fertility through the presence of functional hyperandrogenism and hyperinsulinaemia which accompanies coexisting insulin resistant state, leading to androgen excess and increase free androgen availability, alterations of granulose cell functions and follicular development. Method: This retrospective study was held in the period from november 2014 to october 2015 on 150 patients who attended the infertility clinic, Kasr Al- Aini Hospital. Our studying groups are classified according to BMI into 3 groups: a- 50 patients with normal body mass index (BMI less than 19-24.9) b -50 patients with overweight (BMI25-29.9) c- 50 patients with obesity (BMI equals or more than30) Conclusion:In our study, obesity had negative impact on ovulatory functions. It seems that obesity is a negative prognostic factor for women referred to IVF treatment. they should be encouraged to change lifestyle habits in order to lose weight before starting fertility treatment

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