title: The potential role of intragastric balloon in the treatment of obese-related infertility: personal experience.
abstract: The prevalence of people who are overweight or obese has increased dramatically in high-income countries over the past 20 years. There is a strong association between obesity and infertility, and weight loss can result in increased fecundity in obese women. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the potential role of intragastric balloon in the treatment of obese-related infertility. This is a retrospective study. A chart review of 27 obese women seen between September 2003 and July 2008 was performed. They all presented with the diagnosis of infertility and had undergone endoscopic intragastric balloon positioning. Among these women who tried unsuccessfully to become pregnant before weight loss, 15 became pregnant afterward. The pregnancies proceeded without complications and ended with live births. An improvement in the fertility status after weight loss has been described, although data on fertility after weight loss following bariatric surgery are still limited. The results obtained in our experience are not different from data reported in literature for bariatric surgery. Therefore, balloon treatment might be effective in young infertile obese women who wish to become pregnant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Orthopedic, Traumatology and Emergency, University of Naples Federico II, via S. Pansini 5, 80133, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Musella
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milone
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellini
authors.forename: Miguel Emilio Sosa
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Loredana Maria Sosa
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Maddalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leongito
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Milone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D015905:Gastric Balloon; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss