Lay summary
Infertility affects many families in Aotearoa, and Pasifika experience some of the highest rates, yet they are among the least likely to access fertility treatment. One major barrier is the government’s funding criteria, which excludes people with a body mass index (BMI) over 32 from receiving publicly funded assisted reproductive technology (ART). However, BMI is a tool that doesn’t reflect health or body composition, especially for Pacific communities. This research investigates how body fat (adiposity), rather than BMI, affects fertility and ART outcomes. Using a mouse model, we will adjust litter sizes to produce animals with either high or low adiposity. These mice will be used in an IVF protocol to study how follicles grow and mature, and how well eggs fertilise and develop into embryos. The findings will help determine whether body fat directly impacts fertility, and could inform more equitable funding policies and treatment strategies in New Zealand.