This is a study to determine whether a low calorie diet using meal replacement shakes compared to current counseling about diet, followed by 3 cycles of clomiphene citrate (if needed) will result in: 1) improvements in ability to ovulate and achieve pregnancy either spontaneously or during 3 clomiphene citrate cycles 2) greater weight loss with reductions in waist and hip circumferences and improvements in hormones that are involved in allowing pregnancy to occur and hormones that are involved in metabolism, such as insulin and glucose (sugar) 3) improvements in other health conditions such as blood pressure, and emotional and physical well-being.

Women eligible to participate will be between the ages of 18-35 with a BMI (ratio of weight in kg divided by height in m2) of ≥ 35≤45 kg/m2 who are seeking help for anovulatory infertility including women with a diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

More than 33% of U.S. adults over the age of 20 are obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2), and 6% are severely obese (BMI ≥40 kg/m2). As the prevalence and severity of obesity has increased, so has the number of women who have obesity-related abnormalities in reproductive function, including anovulation and infertility. Specifically, obesity contributes to ovulatory problems and compromises ovarian response to ovulation induction agents such as clomiphene.

Women seeking assistance from specialists for reproductive concerns are both anxious to achieve pregnancy and highly motivated. We propose to assess the relative efficacy of very low energy diet (VLED) using liquid meal replacement vs. standard of care dietary counseling and education (DCE) on the metabolic effects of weight reduction in the obese, subfertile population and assess ovulation and time to conception in these women. We hypothesize that use of a very low energy diet with resultant rapid and profound weight loss and marked improvement in metabolic state, will increase the rate of spontaneous cycling, improve unassisted and clomiphene-assisted ovulation and significantly improve conception and pregnancy rates. Because of the direct relationship between obesity and anovulation, we will test whether evaluation of both habitual dietary intake and plasma metabolomic profiles can be used to identify specific dietary components and metabolites that predict successful or unsuccessful induction of ovulation and pregnancy in response to weight loss with or without clomiphene citrate.

32 reproductive age women with a BMI ≥35≤45 kg/m2 will be randomized to 12 weeks of VLED or DCE and ovulation rates and time to conception between groups will be assessed over a 6 month period. We will also evaluate between group differences in rate of weight loss, absolute weight lost, BMI, waist and hip circumferences as well as reproductive and metabolic hormone levels. Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), androgens, leptin, glucose and insulin (HOMA), and β-cell function (Matsuda Index).

We will assess if clinical, hormonal, dietary or metabolomic profiles, can predict response to weight loss or clomiphene citrate in improving ovulation. Women will be assessed for clinical and molecular phenotypes, including plasma metabolomic profiles. Metabolomic profiles will be adjusted for chronic dietary intake. An initial assessment of the levels of dietary components, metabolites or metabolic pathways that predict response will be investigated.

We will determine program acceptability and differences in the change in co-morbid health conditions, quality-of-life, and psychological well-being in standard of care and VLED-based weight loss participants. Important physiological benefits arise from weight loss and the magnitude of these changes will be assessed in the group of patients seeking reproductive assistance.

This pilot study will provide the first information on the relative success of aggressive, short-term weight loss in the treatment of infertility as defined by improvement in ovulation and conception and provide data for larger, definitive trials of this approach. The study will allow assessment of the feasibility and acceptability of translating VLED treatment-based clinical care and research developed by the University of Michigan Investigational Weight Management Clinic to a specialized population seeking reproductive assistance. Finally, this study will provide important preliminary data for a larger trial to assess the health effects on the mother and the offspring as a result of aggressive intervention to alter the pre-pregnancy metabolic environment in reproductive age women.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women
• 18 to 35 years old
• Obese(BMI of ≥35≤45 kg/m2)
• Infertility (12 months of unprotected intercourse without conception)
• Ovulatory dysfunction (amenorrhea, irregular cycles, or progesterone level less than 10 ng/mL in the luteal phase)
• Partner with semen analysis demonstrating at least 20 million sperm/mL, 50% motility, and normal morphology by Kruger criteria of 8%
• Evidence of normal uterine anatomy and at least on patent tube documented by hysterosalpingogram or saline infusion sonogram.
• Women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Exclusion Criteria:

• Significant heart disease (coronary artery disease, Class II-VI Heart Failure, arrythmia)
• Chronic Kidney Disease, Stage IV or greater
• Significant gastrointestinal tract diseases (e.g. IBD)
• Autoimmune disorders (e.g. systemic lupus erythematosus)
• Neurological (e.g. Multiple Sclerosis)
• Psychiatric disorders (Bipolar, Major Depression)
• History of or current eating disorders or substance abuse
• Endocrine disorders (Type 1 diabetes, adrenal, pituitary or uncontrolled thyroid disease)
• HIV/AIDS
• Significant anemia
• History of or current clotting disorder
• Cancer other than minor skin cancers
• Other conditions that would complicated pregnancy.
• Women will be excluded if they are taking anti-obesity drugs, or appetite suppressants within the last 2 months, or have had previous bariatric surgery.
• Women will be excluded if they have used hormonal medications within the last 2 months, previous use of ovulation induction medications, have endometriosis by American Fertility Society (AFS) class III or IV, have an FSH > 10 IU/mL or couples using donor sperm or are already pregnant.