Professor Vinod Menon has co-authored a major study published in The Lancet, one of the world’s most respected medical journals.
The study, known as the BAMBINI Trial, looked at women living with polycystic ovary syndrome, obesity and irregular or absent periods. PCOS is a common cause of ovulation problems and infertility, and obesity can make the reproductive and metabolic effects of PCOS more severe.
The trial compared two approaches: bariatric surgery using vertical sleeve gastrectomy and medical care involving behavioural support and medical therapy. In total, 80 women were randomly assigned to either surgery or medical care. The study was carried out across two UK specialist obesity management centres.
Professor Menon performed 20 of the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy operations at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, with colleagues at Imperial College performing a further 20 procedures.
The results showed that bariatric surgery was more effective than medical care in inducing spontaneous ovulation in women with PCOS, obesity and oligomenorrhoea or amenorrhoea. The trial also reported significant improvements in reproductive and metabolic measures following surgery.
This is an important finding because many women with PCOS and obesity may face repeated fertility challenges, including failed attempts to conceive and, in some cases, multiple cycles of IVF. For carefully selected patients, effective weight loss treatment may improve the biological conditions needed for ovulation and future fertility.
The BAMBINI Trial helps strengthen the evidence base for bariatric surgery as part of a specialist, multidisciplinary approach to obesity, PCOS and reproductive health. It also highlights the importance of considering metabolic health as part of fertility care.
Publication in The Lancet reflects the significance of the research and the quality of the collaborative work behind it. For Professor Menon, this represents a major career milestone and an important contribution to the future of obesity and fertility treatment.
The full study can be viewed here:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)00538-5/fulltext
