EFFECT OF BODY MASS INDEX ON OVULATION IN NIGERIAN WOMEN WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME UNDERGOING TREATMENT WITH CLOMIPHENE CITRATE: A SONOGRAPHIC STUDY.

Background: Obesity, overweight and elevated BMI are clinical features of PCOS, and between 40-80% of women with PCOS are reported to be overweight or obese. This study aimed to categorize values of patient anthropometric variables such as BMI with change in follicular sizes as determined by sonography following postCLOMID inducement therapy. Materials and Methods: This was an experimental cohort study carried out in some selected hospitals in Anambra State, Nigeria, from June 2018 to May 2022.Convenient sampling technique was adopted to select the subjects based on the inclusion criteria, which were women of child bearing age (18 to 45 years) for both groups. Confirmation of patients with PCOS was ascertained with the presence of polycystic ovaries in ultrasound. The ultrasound examinations and anthropometry measurements were carried out on each subject, and data such as BMI, follicular sizes before and post treatment were recorded. The obtained data were subjected to SPSS analysis using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Results: The mean values of the BMI of the participants in the experimental group before and after treatment with clomid were 25.69±5.99 kg/m2 , 25.92±5.55 kg/m2 respectively, while the mean BMI value for the control group was 23.09±3.41 kg/m2 .There were no statistically significant differences in body mass index, and maximal follicular size in women with failed and successful ovulation in the experimental group before treatment (p>0.05). There were statistically significant mean differences in the BMI (t= 8.75, p = 0.001) and follicular size (t= 2.04, p = 0.04) of participants in the experimental group after treatment with clomid. There were statistically significant mean differences in the BMI (t= 2.41, p = 0.02) and follicular size (t= 4.88, p = 0.001) of participants in the control group after treatment with clomid. Conclusion: There was higher ovulation failure rate among the overweight and obese subjects in both the experimental and control groups. Also significant increase in mean follicular sizes after clomid inducement in the experimental group was noted. Body mass index has significant negative impacts on ovulation.