Obesity contributes to infertility and poor reproductive outcomes

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, found that obese women have abnormally high quantities of fat and inflammation around their ovaries, which could have an impact on how the ovary develops.

Obese women often have trouble conceiving, even if they are young and menstruate regularly. Researchers think that the fats around the ovary may alter its metabolism in a way that is harmful to embryo development. Inflammation can also damage cells, which will affect the survival of embryos.

Researchers followed 96 women seeking assisted reproduction at a private clinic in South Australia from February 2006 to April 2007. They measured hormone and metabolite levels in follicular fluid obtained from the subjects' ovaries during their egg collection procedures.

They found that obese women exhibited an altered ovarian follicular environment, particularly increased metabolite and androgen activity levels, which may be associated with poorer reproductive outcomes.