RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of female obesity on the results of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in six parameters: dose of gonadotropins required, number of oocytes retrieved and fertilization, pregnancy, miscarriage and live births rates. METHOD: Literature search in PUBMED articles in English between 2008 and 2013 using the following keywords: female, obesity and In Vitro Fertilization. 15 articles were selected for this work. RESULTS: From the total only two articles showed that female obesity does not alter the results of IVF. The remaining 13 came to the conclusion that obesity has a negative effect on some of the parameters evaluated. However, there was no consensus about its effect. CONCLUSION: Further studies are needed to clarify the real role of obesity in female patients undergoing IVF, but the weight loss prior to treatment should always be encouraged.