Association of Obesity with Primary and Secondary Infertility among Infertile Women in Turkey: A Cross-sectional Study

Feray ÇAĞIRAN YILMAZ^1, , Metin Saip SÜRÜCÜOĞLU² and Fatma TANILIR ÇAĞIRAN³

¹Nutrition and Dietetic Department, Ankara University Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey

²Nutrition and Dietetic Department, Cyprus International University Faculty of Health Sciences, Lefkosa, Cyprus

³Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Diyarbakır Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Diyarbakır, Turkey

Cite this paper:
Feray ÇAĞIRAN YILMAZ, Metin Saip SÜRÜCÜOĞLU and Fatma TANILIR ÇAĞIRAN. Association of Obesity with Primary and Secondary Infertility among Infertile Women in Turkey: A Cross-sectional Study. Journal of Food and Nutrition Research. 2017; 5(4):208-213. doi: 10.12691/jfnr-5-4-2

Abstract

Extremes in body weight, nutrition, and hormone profile can affect general health and reproductive performance. This cross-sectional study included 100 women (65 with primary infertility, 35 with secondary infertility) aged 20–42 years who visited the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Turkey. After preliminary clinical evaluation, anthropometric measurements and 24-h food consumption records were collected from all subjects. Fasting blood sample drawn on third day of menstrual cycle was analysed for serum luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Our study showed that women with secondary infertility had significantly higher BMIs, waist circumferences, hip circumferences, and waist-hip ratios than women with primary infertility. No significant differences between groups were noted in terms of individual hormone profiles. In the primary infertility group, no significant correlation was observed between hormonal factors and anthropometric measurements. However, in the secondary infertility group, serum prolactin levels demonstrated significant positive correlations with body weight and BMI. The daily energy and macronutrient intakes of women in both groups were similar, and the percentages of dietary fat and saturated fatty acid intakes were high in both groups. Weight loss should be considered as a first line of treatment in obese and overweight women with infertility. Obesity reduction may improve fertility outcomes.

Keywords:
primary infertility secondary infertility nutrition anthropometric measurements hormones

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