Search

Research question: Does the addition of human growth hormone (HGH) to an IVF cycle improve the live birth rate in previously documented poor responders to FSH? Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial comparing HGH to placebo in maximal stimulation in an IVF cycle. The study was stopped after 4 years. Women receiving ovarian stimulation in one IVF cycle, having failed to produce more than 5 eggs in a previous cycle with more than 250 IU/day of FSH were included. Basal FSH was ≤15 IU/l, body mass index

Obesity has manifold consequences across the reproductive lifespan of women. It may advance the age of puberty, particularly in relation to thelarche. It impinges on reproductive fitness via ovarian, endometrial and hypothalamic-pituitary factors in both natural and assisted conception, and male obesity has a synergistic effect in reducing fertility. Obesity increases the risks of virtually all antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal complications. Menopausal symptoms and malignancy risks are generally compounded by obesity. The obesity epidemic has coincided with earlier age of puberty and declining male fertility and, through the trans-generational effects of obesity, it may itself further increase the prevalence of obesity in the future.

In overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome, weight loss improves arterial compliance and postprandial lipidemia. Modifying dietary carbohydrate or protein in weight loss provided similar improvements in arterial compliance and postprandial lipidemia. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

This study aimed to investigate the effects of prescriptive lifestyle advice with quantifiable dietary and physical goals compared to general lifestyle advice on weight and psychological outcomes in young women with overweight or obesity. A total of 203 women (body mass index 33.3±0.3, age 28±0.3 years) received either prescriptive or general lifestyle advice for weight loss over 12 weeks. Linear mixed models found that the prescriptive lifestyle advice group had significantly greater weight loss (4.2±0.4 kg vs 0.6±0.2 kg, P0.05). Drop-outs had greater baseline psychological distress (15.1±0.7 vs 12.5±0.4, P

Reproductive disorders and psychological distress are common co-morbidities of obesity in young women. Psychological and reproductive disturbances may also be associated with increased food cravings but the relationships between these factors have not been explored. This study aimed to explore the pattern of food cravings and to determine the relationship between psychological distress, reproductive health and food cravings in overweight and obese young women using baseline data in a weight loss trial. A total of 198 young women were included in this analysis (BMI 33.3 ± 0.3 kg/m2, age 28 ± 0.3 years). The most frequently craved food item was chocolate (3.9 ± 0.08 i.e., sometimes-often). The most frequently craved food categories were fast foods (2.6 ± 0.07) and sweets (2.5 ± 0.05). Psychological distress was significantly correlated with food cravings (R2 = 0.18, P < 0.05). High fat (r = 0.2), sweets (r = 0.17) and overall cravings (r = 0.20) were significantly correlated with energy intake (P < 0.05). Psychological distress did not correlate with energy intake (P > 0.05). Participants with menstrual disturbances had greater fast food cravings independent of age, BMI and PCOS status (P < 0.05). Participants with hyperandrogenemia had greater high fat food cravings independent of age, BMI and PCOS status (P < 0.01). Energy intake did not differ with menstrual disturbances or hyperandrogenemia (P > 0.05). These results suggest that psychological distress, hyperandrogenemia and menstrual disturbances are associated with greater food cravings. Further investigations are required to elucidate the relationship between hyperandrogenemia and food cravings in young women. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of weight loss on heart rate recovery (HRR) in overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).DESIGN: A 10-week prospective clinical intervention.SETTING: Clinical research unit.PATIENT(S): Fifty-seven overweight and obese women with PCOS (age: 29.8 +/- 0.8 years; body mass index [BMI] 36.2 +/- 0.7 kg/m(2)).INTERVENTION(S): A dietary plan of 5-6 MJ/day ( approximately 30% energy restricted).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Heart rate recovery (defined as the reduction in heart rate after 1 minute from peak heart rate after a graded treadmill test to exhaustion), weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and sex steroids before and after the intervention.RESULT(S): The mean percentage of weight loss was (-6.7 +/- 0.4%). There were significant reductions in waist circumference (-6.9 +/- 0.6 cm), blood pressure (-4.9/-2.5 +/- 1.2/1.2 mm Hg), fasting insulin (-3.4 +/- 0.7 mU/L), fasting glucose (-0.17 +/- 0.05 mmol/L), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (-0.43 +/- 0.09), T (-0.38 +/- 0.07 nmol/L), free androgen index (-2.86 +/- 0.58), and an increase in sex hormone-binding globulin [SHBG] (5.86 +/- 1.12 nmol/L). The HRR improved from 30.9 +/- 1.1 to 38.0 +/- 1.1 beats/min and that was related to the reduction in body weight (r = -0.34) and waist circumference (r = -0.27).CONCLUSION(S): Weight loss in overweight and obese women with PCOS is associated with improvements in HRR, which suggests improved autonomic function. This highlights the importance of weight loss to reduce the cardiovascular disease risk in these women. Refereed/Peer-reviewed