Everleap Fertility Research Wins 2026 ASRM Award for Study on Obesity and Embryonic Aneuploidy
Everleap Fertility, a leading fertility care provider in the United States formerly known as IVI RMA North America and part of the global reproductive medicine organization IVI Institute, has announced that its research examining the relationship between obesity and embryonic aneuploidy in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) has received the 2026 Nurses Professional Group Prize Paper Award from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).
The award was presented in recognition of research conducted by nurses and was announced in connection with the ASRM 2026 Annual Scientific Congress & Expo. The recognition highlights Everleap Fertility’s continued commitment to advancing reproductive medicine through clinical research, scientific collaboration and evidence-based patient care.
The award-winning study, titled “Age Carries the Weight: Obesity Does Not Drive Embryonic Aneuploidy in In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) with Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A),” examined whether obesity was associated with a higher rate of embryonic chromosomal abnormalities among patients undergoing IVF.
The multicenter retrospective cohort study included 12,377 patients and 62,884 biopsied blastocysts. Its findings indicated that obesity was not associated with an increased rate of whole-chromosome embryonic aneuploidy following IVF. The research also identified oocyte age as the primary predictor of whole-chromosome aneuploidy, emphasizing the importance of age-related factors in understanding embryo chromosomal status.
The study found that the aneuploidy rate was 32.2% among patients with obesity, compared with 32.1% among patients without obesity. The results also indicated that patients with obesity were not at an increased risk of having no euploid embryos available after their first IVF cycle with PGT-A.
These findings may help fertility specialists provide more individualized counseling by offering additional evidence about the relationship between body weight, age and embryo chromosomal outcomes.
Research Recognized at the ASRM 2026 Scientific Congress
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine is a professional organization focused on advancing reproductive medicine through research, education and clinical practice. Its annual scientific congress brings together professionals working across fertility care, reproductive science, nursing and related disciplines to share research findings and discuss developments in the field.
The Nurses Professional Group Prize Paper Award recognizes outstanding research conducted by nurses, highlighting the contribution of nursing professionals to scientific discovery and improvements in patient care.
For Everleap Fertility, the recognition represents an important achievement for its research team and reinforces the role of multidisciplinary collaboration in addressing questions that affect people seeking fertility treatment.
The award-winning research was conducted by Christine Whitehead, Director of Research Operations at Everleap Fertility, in collaboration with Kristin Lefebvre and Emre Seli. The team investigated whether obesity independently influenced the likelihood of chromosomal abnormalities in embryos created through IVF.
The study focused on whole-chromosome aneuploidy, a condition in which an embryo has an abnormal number of chromosomes. Chromosomal abnormalities can affect embryo development and reproductive outcomes, making the assessment of embryo chromosomal status an important consideration in fertility treatment.
By examining a large patient population and thousands of biopsied blastocysts, the researchers sought to better understand whether obesity was associated with increased chromosomal risk and whether that relationship remained relevant when considering patient age.
The findings suggest that obesity alone was not associated with an increased rate of whole-chromosome aneuploidy in the studied population. Instead, the results reinforced the importance of oocyte age as a major factor associated with embryonic chromosomal status.
Understanding the Relationship Between Obesity and Fertility
Obesity and reproductive health are frequently discussed in fertility care because body weight can be associated with several aspects of reproductive function and pregnancy health. However, the relationship between obesity and individual IVF outcomes is complex, and different clinical outcomes should not be treated as interchangeable.
The Everleap Fertility study concentrated on embryonic whole-chromosome aneuploidy among patients undergoing IVF with preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy.
The research is important because concerns about obesity and fertility can influence how patients understand their treatment prospects and approach decisions about pursuing assisted reproductive technologies.
Patients may have questions about whether body weight affects the likelihood of producing chromosomally normal embryos, whether age is a more significant factor, and what the findings mean for their individual treatment plans.
The study provides evidence relevant to one specific aspect of those questions: the rate of whole-chromosome aneuploidy in biopsied embryos following IVF.
According to the study results, the difference in aneuploidy rates between the two groups was minimal. Patients with obesity had a reported rate of 32.2%, while those without obesity had a rate of 32.1%.
These figures indicate that the study did not identify an increased rate of whole-chromosome aneuploidy associated with obesity in the population examined.
The results do not mean that obesity has no relationship with any aspect of reproductive health, IVF success or pregnancy outcomes. Rather, they address the specific chromosomal outcome investigated by the researchers.
This distinction is important for fertility counseling. IVF involves multiple stages, and factors affecting ovarian response, embryo development, implantation, pregnancy and maternal health may differ. Findings about embryo aneuploidy should therefore be interpreted within the scope of the research rather than applied to every possible fertility outcome.
By focusing on a clearly defined clinical question, the study contributes additional evidence that fertility specialists can consider when discussing embryo chromosomal status with patients.
Oocyte Age Remains a Key Predictor of Embryonic Chromosomal Abnormalities
One of the study’s central findings was that oocyte age remained the primary predictor of embryonic whole-chromosome aneuploidy.
Oocytes are egg cells involved in reproduction. Their age is an important consideration in fertility treatment because the likelihood of chromosomal abnormalities in embryos is associated with the age of the person providing the eggs.
As reproductive age increases, the probability of chromosomal errors during egg development and cell division generally rises. These errors can contribute to embryos having an abnormal number of chromosomes.
The Everleap Fertility study reinforces the significance of age when evaluating embryonic chromosomal outcomes in IVF patients.
The researchers’ findings suggest that obesity did not independently correspond to a higher whole-chromosome aneuploidy rate in the population studied, while oocyte age remained the leading predictor.
This information may help clinicians frame conversations about fertility treatment around the factors most relevant to a patient’s circumstances. Rather than relying on a single characteristic to estimate reproductive prospects, fertility specialists can consider age, medical history, reproductive factors, test results and the specific goals of treatment.
For patients, a clearer understanding of the role of oocyte age may also help explain why fertility counseling is individualized and why outcomes can differ between people who share certain characteristics.
The research adds to the evidence base that clinicians may use when explaining the potential implications of age and obesity for embryo chromosomal status.
Findings on the Availability of Euploid Embryos
In addition to comparing aneuploidy rates, the study examined whether patients with obesity were more likely to have no euploid embryos available after their first IVF cycle with PGT-A.
A euploid embryo has the expected number of chromosomes, while an aneuploid embryo has an abnormal chromosome number. PGT-A is a testing approach used during IVF to assess the chromosome number in sampled cells from an embryo.
The availability of euploid embryos can be an important consideration for patients and clinicians as they discuss treatment options. However, identifying a euploid embryo does not guarantee implantation, pregnancy or live birth, and the test does not assess every possible genetic or developmental factor.
The study found that patients with obesity were not at an increased risk of having no euploid embryos available after their first IVF cycle with PGT-A.
This result offers another perspective on the relationship between obesity and embryo chromosomal status. It suggests that, within the population studied, obesity was not associated with a greater likelihood of completing the first IVF cycle without an available euploid embryo.
For fertility specialists, the finding may be relevant when discussing the potential outcomes of PGT-A with patients who have concerns about body weight.
Nevertheless, individual treatment outcomes can vary, and the study’s findings should be considered alongside other clinical information. Factors such as age, ovarian response, the number of eggs retrieved and the number of embryos available can influence the results of an IVF cycle.
The study therefore contributes evidence to support more informed discussions rather than replacing individualized medical assessment.
Christine Whitehead Highlights the Importance of Evidence-Based Counseling
Christine Whitehead, Director of Research Operations at Everleap Fertility and lead author of the award-winning paper, welcomed the recognition from ASRM.
Whitehead emphasized that questions about obesity and fertility are complex and that patients deserve counseling based on scientific evidence.
She also highlighted the value of conducting research using patients treated within Everleap Fertility’s own network. This approach creates opportunities to examine clinical questions arising in everyday practice and bring the resulting knowledge back to the settings where patient care decisions are made.
The research may help fertility professionals address patient concerns with a clearer explanation of the evidence surrounding obesity and embryonic aneuploidy.
For patients, access to accurate information is an important part of navigating fertility treatment. Questions about weight, age and the likelihood of producing embryos with the expected chromosome number can be emotionally challenging, particularly when patients are weighing treatment options or trying to understand their prospects.
Research that examines these questions in substantial patient populations can help clinicians communicate more clearly about what is known, what remains uncertain and which factors are most relevant to an individual’s circumstances.
Whitehead’s recognition also highlights the contribution of research operations and nursing-related research to reproductive medicine. Clinical research depends on coordinated efforts involving patient care teams, laboratory professionals, investigators and other specialists who help translate scientific questions into studies that can inform clinical practice.
Everleap Fertility Advances Collaborative Reproductive Medicine Research
The award-winning study was one of 19 studies presented by Everleap Fertility at the ASRM 2026 conference with support from the IVI Institute.
The breadth of research presented at the conference reflects the organization’s continued focus on scientific investigation and collaboration across reproductive medicine.
Everleap Fertility, formerly IVI RMA North America, is part of IVI Institute, which operates internationally in the field of reproductive medicine. Through its research activities, the organization aims to connect scientific knowledge with clinical practice and improve the information available to professionals caring for patients experiencing infertility.
The IVI Institute Research Alliance operates across 10 global research centers. Its focus includes translating scientific findings into approaches that can make a meaningful difference in patient care.
Research, laboratory advances and technological innovation are important components of this work. By examining clinical questions and sharing results through scientific forums, researchers can contribute to the broader understanding of fertility treatment and its associated outcomes.
The presentation of 19 studies at the ASRM congress demonstrates the organization’s participation in the exchange of scientific knowledge with the reproductive medicine community.
The recognition of the obesity and embryonic aneuploidy study further underscores the importance of research that addresses practical questions arising during fertility treatment.
Leadership Emphasizes the Importance of Clinical Research
Dr. Thomas Molinaro, Chief Medical Officer at Everleap Fertility, said the award recognizes the strength of the organization’s research efforts and its commitment to advancing reproductive medicine.
Molinaro expressed appreciation to ASRM and the Nurses Professional Group for recognizing the work. He also acknowledged Whitehead and the collaborative team involved in producing the study.
He emphasized that addressing important clinical questions through research can help expand scientific knowledge and support continued improvements in patient care.
For fertility care providers, research has a role beyond publication and conference presentations. Findings can help clinicians evaluate existing practices, refine patient education and identify areas where further investigation may be useful.
The process requires careful interpretation of evidence and consideration of how research findings apply to individual patients. Studies that examine large patient populations can provide useful insights, but no single study can answer every question about fertility or predict the outcome of an individual treatment cycle.
The Everleap Fertility study offers evidence about a specific relationship between obesity and whole-chromosome embryonic aneuploidy. Its findings may help inform counseling while supporting further research into the many factors that influence reproductive outcomes.
Implications for the Future of Fertility Care
The recognition of Everleap Fertility’s research highlights the growing importance of evidence-based counseling in reproductive medicine. As fertility treatments become more sophisticated, patients and clinicians need reliable information to understand test results, assess treatment options and make decisions that reflect individual circumstances.
The study’s findings suggest that obesity was not associated with an increased rate of whole-chromosome aneuploidy among the IVF patients examined. The near-identical rates reported for patients with and without obesity, combined with the importance of oocyte age, provide additional evidence for discussions about embryo chromosomal status.
At the same time, the results should not be interpreted as a conclusion that body weight is irrelevant to every fertility or pregnancy outcome. The study examined a particular endpoint in a defined patient population, and other aspects of reproductive health require separate consideration.
The research may be especially useful in helping clinicians distinguish between concerns about embryonic chromosomal abnormalities and other potential considerations related to obesity and reproductive care.
Everleap Fertility’s recognition at the ASRM 2026 Annual Scientific Congress & Expo also reinforces the value of collaboration among researchers, clinical teams and nursing professionals. By investigating questions that matter to patients and sharing findings with the wider medical community, these teams contribute to the continuing development of reproductive medicine.
As the organization continues its research efforts with the support of IVI Institute, studies such as this one can help strengthen the scientific foundation of fertility counseling and encourage more individualized discussions between patients and their care teams.
The 2026 Nurses Professional Group Prize Paper Award represents a significant achievement for Whitehead and her collaborators, while bringing attention to research aimed at improving understanding of obesity, age and embryonic chromosomal outcomes in IVF.
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