Waist circumference and IVF success – is there a link?

This study investigated if waist circumference (WC) is associated with reduced success after fertility treatment. They found that higher WC was associated with a lower live birth rate (LBR) after fertility treatment.

Infertility is becoming increasingly common. Fertility treatment involves using assisted reproductive technology (ART). In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is an ART. There are some risk factors for infertility. Obesity is one of them. Reduced fertility is more common in obese patients. The live birth rate (LBR) is lower in obese women undergoing ART. 

Obesity is usually determined using the body mass index (BMI). This uses weight and height to classify a person’s weight range. BMI does not distinguish between fat weight and muscle weight. This means some women may have a high BMI even though they are lean and healthy. Waist circumference (WC) is another measurement of fat mass. WC can be an accurate predictor of disease. It is unclear if WC is associated with LBR in women undergoing FT.

This study included 264 women undergoing fertility treatment. These women underwent a total of 445 ART cycles. WC was measured before patients underwent ART. There were 3 groups based on WC. Group 1 had the lowest WC (less than 77cm). Group 2 had an WC between 77 and 86cm and group 3 had a WC higher than 86cm. The main outcome was LBR.

35.5% of ART cycles resulted in a live birth. Most patients had unexplained infertility (46%). Higher WC was associated with lower LBR. High WC was also associated with lower levels of estradiol. This is an important pregnancy hormone. The chance of implantation and pregnancy were 14% and 15% lower in women with the highest WC compared to women with normal or medium WC. Overweight women with a high WC had reduced fertility treatment success compared to overweight women with lower WC.

The authors concluded that a higher waist circumference was associated with lower LBR after fertility treatment.

The number of patients in the study was relatively small. WC was only measured at enrollment. WC could have changed between ART cycles. 

If you have any concerns regarding fertility, please consult with your physician.