Abstract

Introduction: Body weight is a health determinating indicator in human beings. Several studies have examined the association between obesity and infertility. This study was conducted in order to compare obesity in fertile and infertile women. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was carried out by case-control design. The case group (N=182) were chosen from Yazd infertility center and the control group (N=189) were chosen by multi stages sampling method at 4 health care clinics in Yazd during Jan to July 2006. Data were collected by a questionnaire which was completed by interview and measurement. The data was analyzed with SPSS 14 software and inferential statistical tests. Results: Body mass index and waist to hip ratio were higher in infertile women but this difference was not significant (p=0.52). 62.4 of samples were overweight or obese including 118 infertile and 113 fertile women. In addition, waist to hip ratio in92.2 of women including 156 Infertile and 177 fertile women was equal or more than 0.8, but the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (p=0.09). The average duration of menstruation was significantly shorter for infertile women (p=0.000). 50 of infertile women mentioned a recent weight loss but only 0.42 mentioned in fertile group (p=0.000). Conclusion: The relation between obesity and infertility is not confirmed in this study, which is not consistent with similar study results. This issue seems to be due to the diets and recent weight loss in majority of infertile women who referred to the studied infertility center.