WEIGHT-LOSS RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN PREGNANCY AND OVULATION RATES IN ANOVULATORY OBESE WOMEN

Obesity can affect ovulation and the chances of pregnancy, In this pro spective study, a weight loss programme was assessed to determine whet her it could help infertile overweight anovulatory women to establish ovulation and assist in achieving pregnancy, ideally without further m edical intervention, The subjects acted as their own historical contro ls, They underwent a weekly programme of behavioural change in relatio n to exercise and diet over 6 months; those who did not complete the 6 months were treated as the comparison group, Women in the study group lost an average of 6.3 kg, with 12 of the 13 subjects resuming ovulat ion and 11 becoming pregnant, five of these spontaneously, Fitness, di et and psychometric measurements all improved, Fasting insulin and tes tosterone concentrations dropped significantly, while sex hormone bind ing globulin concentrations rose. None of these changes occurred in th e comparison group. Thus, weight loss with a resultant improvement in ovulation, pregnancy outcome, self-esteem and endocrine parameters is the first therapeutic option for women who are infertile and overweigh t.