Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Functional Manipulation of Maternal Gene Products Using In Vitro Oocyte Maturation in Zebrafish
Published on: April 22, 2017
The effect of maternal body mass index (BMI) and telomere function on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome: a
Natalie Weeg1, Anat Hershko Klement1,2,3, Einat Haikin1
1Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Meir Medical Centre, Kfar Saba, Israel.
Abstract:
Telomeres are a specific base sequence of DNA, responsible for chromosome stability and DNA protection. We aimed to investigate the association between telomere systems and IVF outcomes according to patients' BMI. For all telomere characteristics, there was a distinct trend towards shorter telomeres and activation of telomere shortening compensatory mechanisms in the BMI group >25kg/m2, reaching statistical significance for senescence only (r = 0.7, p value <0.01). There was a trend towards a relationship between telomere length and number of oocytes between telomere length and fertilization rate, but these did not reach a statistical significance. For pregnancy outcome, all telomere characteristics were better for the patients who achieved a pregnancy. While there is paucity of data in the literature concerning the association between telomere characteristics and infertility, telomeres might contribute to the association between obesity and sub-optimal IVF results.
Related Concept Videos
Telomeres and Telomerase
Telomeres and Telomerase
In Vitro Fertilization
The IVF process begins with ovarian stimulation, during which reproductive endocrinologists prescribe hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of the single...
Reduced Mass Coordinates: Isolated Two-body Problem
Fertilization
Predicting Reaction Outcomes

