title: Paternal body mass index is associated with decreased blastocyst development and reduced live birth rates following assisted reproductive technology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between paternal body mass index (BMI), embryo development and pregnancy, and live birth outcomes after assisted reproductive technology (ART).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of ART cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Major assisted reproduction center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred five couples undergoing ART in a private fertility clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  No intervention was undertaken in patients involved in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Live birth outcomes and clinical pregnancy rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant relationship between paternal BMI and early embryo development was found. However, increased paternal BMI was associated with decreased blastocyst development, clinical pregnancy rates and live birth outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this is the first report linking increased paternal BMI and clinical pregnancy and live birth rates after ART treatment. Further work to elucidate the mechanisms involved is required.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, School of Paediatrics & Reproductive Health, Robinson Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia. hassan.bakos@adelaide.edu.au
authors.forename: Hassan W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Bakos
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Henshaw
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015536:Down-Regulation; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055101:Semen Analysis