Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF ) Freely available
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Pasquali, R.
Right arrow Articles by Vicennati, V.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Pasquali, R.
Right arrow Articles by Vicennati, V.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Human Reproduction, Vol. 12, No. suppl_1, pp. 82-87, 1997
© 1997 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Weight control and its beneficial effect on fertility in women with obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome

R. Pasquali1, F. Casimirri and V. Vicennati

Endocrine Section, Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, St. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater University Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy

Correspondence: 1To whom correspondence should be addressed

Obesity may be an important pathogenetic factor involved in the development of hyperandrogenism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Among several other mechanisms, hyperinsulinaemia plays a fundamental role, due to its gonadotrophic function, which has been demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, not surprisingly, weight loss may be expected to have several beneficial effects upon clinical, endocrinological and metabolic features of obese women presenting woth PCOS. In particular, weight loss appears to be associated with a significant improvement in menses abnormalities, ovulation and fertility rates, and with a reduction of hyperandrogenism, hyperinsulinaemia, and altered gonadotrophin pulsatile secretion. The central role of improved insulin concentrations and insulin-resistant state is emphasized by the fact that similar effects can be achieved by both short- and long-term administration of metformin, an insulinlowering drug which ameliorates peripheral insulin action in non-diabetic insulin resistant states. We therefore recommend weight loss as a first-line therapeutic option in all women with obesity and PCOS.

Key words: fertility/obesity/polycystic ovary syndrome/weight loss


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
J. W. van der Steeg, P. Steures, M. J.C. Eijkemans, J. D. F. Habbema, P. G.A. Hompes, J. M. Burggraaff, G. J. E. Oosterhuis, P. M.M. Bossuyt, F. van der Veen, and B. W.J. Mol
Obesity affects spontaneous pregnancy chances in subfertile, ovulatory women
Hum. Reprod., February 1, 2008; 23(2): 324 - 328.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Endocr. Rev.Home page
V. De Leo, A. la Marca, and F. Petraglia
Insulin-Lowering Agents in the Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Endocr. Rev., October 1, 2003; 24(5): 633 - 667.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.