Does obesity affect embryo development and quality? A retrospective analysis.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Embryology
• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

Background:

• Maternal body mass index (BMI) is a critical factor in reproductive health.
• Understanding the impact of BMI on embryo development is crucial for optimizing IVF outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between maternal BMI and embryo morphokinetic parameters.
• To evaluate the effect of different BMI categories on embryo quality and developmental potential.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 617 gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles.
• Comparison of embryo morphokinetics and quality across four BMI groups (<18.5, 18.5-24.9, 25-29.9, ≥30 kg/m²).
• Assessment of key parameters including time to pronucleus appearance, cleavage timings, and blastocyst formation rates.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed in oocyte yield, fertilization rates, or embryo creation rates across BMI groups.
• Embryo morphokinetic parameters, including time to pronucleus appearance and cleavage timings, showed no significant variations between BMI groups.
• Top-quality embryo rates at cleavage and blastocyst stages were comparable across all maternal BMI categories.

Conclusions:

• Maternal BMI, even in extreme ranges, does not appear to significantly influence embryo morphokinetic parameters or quality.
• Time-lapse monitoring data suggest that variations in maternal weight do not adversely affect early embryo development in ICSI cycles.
• These findings indicate that BMI may not be a primary determinant of embryo developmental potential in the context of assisted reproduction.