Successful pregnancy following gastric sleeve surgery for long-duration primary infertility: A case report

Int J Surg Case Rep. 2023 May:106:108100. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2023.108100. Epub 2023 Apr 7.

Abstract

Introduction and importance: Morbid obesity negatively affects patients' life quality in several ways. One of the major obesity-related problems is getting pregnant, even when using assisted reproductive technology. Obesity contributes to anovulation and menstrual irregularities, with a lower conception rate, a lower response to fertility treatment, poor implantation, low-quality oocytes, and miscarriages. Managing morbid obesity and then assessing the pregnancy outcome is crucial.

Case presentation: We reported a case of a 42-year-old woman who had primary infertility for 26 years, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and a body mass index (BMI) of 51. She was able to get pregnant after having bariatric sleeve surgery, which brought her BMI down to 27. She had a successful pregnancy and live birth by Intrauterine insemination (IUI) from the first trial.

Clinical discussion: Patients with morbid obesity (BMI 35) and obesity-related health problems have often turned to bariatric surgery as their first line of treatment. Extremely overweight females with PCOS and infertility may benefit more from bariatric surgery.

Conclusion: Extremely overweight females with PCOS and infertility may benefit more from bariatric surgery, such as laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, than rather than only a healthier lifestyle change. Larger studies that assess the effect of bariatric surgeries in highly morbid females with PCOS are needed.

Keywords: Case report; Infertility; Obesity; Pregnancy; Sleeve surgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports