title: Body mass index is inversely related to intrafollicular HCG concentrations, embryo quality and IVF outcome.
abstract: Decreased periovulatory human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) concentrations have been shown to be associated with diminished fertilization rates. This study evaluated if intra-follicular HCG concentration may be related to body mass in 247 IVF patients using their own oocytes and 58 patients receiving donor oocytes, and evaluated if such a relationship might affect IVF outcome. A significant inverse correlation (r = -0.353, P < 0.001) was observed between the body mass index (BMI) and intra-follicular HCG concentration. The mean HCG concentrations were significantly decreased (P < 0.001) in patients with a BMI >30 kg/m(2) compared with patients with a BMI of 20-30 kg/m(2) or BMI <20 kg/m(2) (17.6 versus 45.1 and 52.5%, respectively). The clinical pregnancy rates (P < 0.001) and embryo quality (P < 0.05) were significantly different for the three groups. In donor oocyte recipients, the pregnancy rate was significantly decreased (P < 0.0001) for recipients with a BMI >25 kg/m(2) compared with those with a BMI from 21-25 kg/m(2) and BMI <21 kg/m(2) (43.8 versus 72 and 76.5%, respectively). These data indicate that intra-follicular HCG concentration is inversely related to BMI, and may be related to a concurrent decrease in embryo quality and pregnancy rates.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA; Center for Reproductive Medicine, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, MN 55407, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Carrell
authors.forename: Kirtly P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: C Matthew
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Benjamin R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Emery
authors.forename: Bruce R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Campbell