Effects of body mass index and biochemical lipid levels on reproductive outcomes during an intracytoplasmic sperm injection: A retrospective study

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of body mass index (BMI) and lipid profile on reproductive outcomes of women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted in the Center of Human Reproductive Physiopathology of University of Catania between April 2017 and March 2018 and enrolled 114 couples undergoing ICSI. Levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) and triglycerides were determinate and, according to the BMI, samples were divided into the following groups: group A (BMI: 18.5-24.9 kg/m2); group B (BMI: 25-29.9 kg/m2); and group C (BMI >30 kg/m2). BMI and lipid profile associations with the number of oocytes and embryos retrieved, the oocytes and embryo quality, the fertilization rate as well as the percentage of miscarriages and pregnancies, were assessed. The statistical analysis was performed using Shapiro-Wilk test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal-Wallis method. Results: Fertilization and pregnancy rates were lower in women with BMI>30 than in women with BMI: 25-29.9 and BMI: 18.5-24.9, despite the not altered levels of lipoprotein. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that an excess of adipose tissue in women undergoing ICSI was not directly related with altered biochemical lipid values. However, overweight and obese patients showed poor fertilization and pregnancy rate despite the not altered values of lipoprotein.