To evaluate the effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention compared with usual care on fertility outcomes in women with obesity and infertility, specifically those with PCOS.
Key Findings:
The intervention group lost more weight (−3.21% ± 4.73% vs −0.40% ± 3.66%, P = .003) and waist circumference (−2.62 ± 4.46 cm vs −0.23 ± 3.81 cm, P = .01) at 6 months.
Live birth rate was 44.4% in the intervention group vs 35.9% in the control group (RR = 1.24 [95% CI 0.81-1.90]).
Clinical pregnancy rates were 52.4% in the intervention group vs 37.5% in the control group (RR = 1.40 [95% CI 0.94-2.07]).
Natural pregnancy rates were significantly higher in the intervention group (27.0% vs 12.5%, RR = 2.16 [95% CI 1.01-4.64]).
Interpretation:
While the lifestyle intervention did not significantly increase the live birth rate, it improved natural pregnancy rates, indicating potential benefits in reducing reliance on assisted reproduction.
Limitations:
The study excluded women unlikely to conceive naturally, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
The follow-up period was limited to 18 months, which may not capture long-term outcomes.
Conclusion:
A 6-month lifestyle intervention prior to fertility treatments may enhance natural pregnancy rates in overweight or obese women with PCOS, potentially reducing the need for costly assisted reproductive technologies.
