Effect of body mass index on the outcome of superovulation and intrauterine insemination in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common endocrine disorder that affects women and accounts for 87% and 26% of patients attending a gynecological endocrine clinic presenting with history of oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea respectively. Only a third of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome are obese, but obesity increases the likelihood of a women with syndrome developing anovulation.Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of body mass index in infertile women with polycystic ovarian syndrome on the outcome of superovulation and intrauterine insemination.Patients and methods: This study included 100 women undergoing ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination. All of them had polycystic ovarian syndrome patients. They were subdivided into 2 subgroups; 50 obese patients (BMI, 30-35) and 50 non-obese patients (BMI, 20-25). Induction of ovulation was performed using hMG followd by intrauterine insemination and luteal phase support.Results: The results of study showed that obese PCOS patients need higher doses of gonadotorphin (1733 ± 230 in group II compared to 711.6 ± 235 in group I) and longer duration of stimulation (10.7 ± 2.2 in group II compared to 9.7 ± 1.8 in group I) to produce optimal ovulation response. Preovulatory E2 level was higher in non-obese PCOS patients (315.6 ± 74.7 in group I compared to 270.4 ± 51.4 in group II). Endometrial thickness was higher in obese PCOS patients (11.3 ± 2.3 in group II compared to 9.34 ± 1.8 in group I). But, as regards pregnancy rate, no difference was found between both groups. In this study, the pregnancy rate between both studied groups statistically non-significant (p = 0.58).Conclusion: In conclusion, although obese PCOS patients need higher doses of gonadotrophins with the same number of follicles, lower E2 level and higher endometrial thickness, they had the same pregnancy rate as non-obse PCOS patients.