Effect of Body Mass Index, Caffeine Consumption and Physical Activity on in vitro Fertilization Outcome in Erbil City/Iraq

Background and Objective: Several factors influence the success of in vitro fertilization. In recent years, there has been a lot of focus on how lifestyle factors like body weight, physical activity levels, cigarette smoking, alcohol, and caffeine consumption affect In vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome (biochemical pregnancy). The term "biochemical pregnancy" is defined as a pregnancy that can only be determined by the presence of serum levels of the hormone Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (HCG). This study aimed to assess the effect of women's lifestyle factors, such as body mass index, caffeine consumption, and physical activity, on the outcome of In vitro fertilization (biochemical pregnancy). Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was conducted from September 2021 to September 2022.A convenience sampling technique was used among 110 women in total who consented to take part in this study, but because 10 of them cancelled (IVF) treatment before embryo transfer or oocyte retrieval, were excluded from analysis, only 100 infertile women undergoing (IVF) were included in the analysis in the Maternity Teaching Hospital's (in vitro fertilization center) and some private hospitals in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The women in the study ranged in age from 20 to 45, were undergoing IVF. Result: (44%) of infertile women had a successful biochemical pregnancy (positive beta hCG test). The majority (74%) of the study sample consumed caffeinated beverages. Results showed a significant difference between caffeine consumption and IVF outcome (biochemical pregnancy) (P=0.01), but there was no statistically significant difference between body mass index (BMI), and physical activity (vigorous, moderate) with IVF outcome (biochemical pregnancy). Only walking showed a significant difference with IVF outcome (biochemical pregnancy) (P=0.017). Conclusion: Increased caffeine consumption is a significant factor that can affect IVF outcome.