While obesity can cause a lot of problems before or during pregnancy, it should not be assumed that being overweight is the only reason for infertility. Read through to know more about the relationship between obesity and fertility.
Women have always been obsessed with weight loss, obese women even more so. A person who has more than 30% of the body tissue made of fat is considered obese. Most of us know that obesity causes heart diseases and health problems such as diabetes, but very few know that obesity in women can be a cause of infertility. The reason obese women have reduced chances of getting pregnant has to do with their ovulation, which is sometimes interrupted by excess fat. Here’s all that you should know about obesity leading to infertility in women.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infertility is a common problem. 12% women between the age of 15 to 44 have trouble getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term. There are various factors that contribute to infertility in women, like age, menstrual cycle, ovulation and even weight.
Some of the effects of weight on the fertility of women are stated below.
Excess weight can be linked to infertility in most, not all, women. But other than the inability to conceive, excessive weight can also cause problems such as:
Obesity affects the regularity of your menstrual cycle, as your body undergoes various hormonal changes that tag along with obesity. Once the menstrual cycle is disturbed, the ovulation period goes off track, increasing the chances of infertility in women. Thus, obesity is directly linked to infertility.
Obesity lowers the success rate of treatments such as IVF and further increases the complexities. It reduces the body’s response to IVF medication, thus reducing the number of eggs retrieved. Obese women face a higher risk of bleeding and injury during the process.
Before trying to conceive, obese women must lose weight to narrow their chances of miscarriage. Some studies that prove that obesity doubles the risk of women miscarrying.
WATCH: How Obesity Affects Chances of Pregnancy.
Key Takeaway: Weight is a factor that matters when it comes to fertility in men and women alike. Here’s what you should know about obesity and how it affects your chances of getting pregnant.
Pregnancy and obesity together are not a very healthy combination. As we now know that obesity causes various complications in pregnancy, it also has an impact on your child’s health and development. So here are a few ways that will help you get pregnant while obese.
Losing weight around the abdominal area is one way to get pregnant as the disruption in ovulation caused by the abdominal fat will reduce. This will help regularize your ovulation cycle, thus increasing your chances of conceiving.
If your periods are regular and you’re under the age of 30, you can try conceiving on your own. Use kits at home to know when you’re ovulating and plan sex accordingly. In case of irregular menstrual cycles, it’s best to visit your fertility specialist at the earliest.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common reason behind irregular periods that lead to infertility in women. Obesity or consistent weight gain is also linked with PCOS. Women with this problem suffer from multiple cysts in their ovaries which produce large amounts of androgenic and oestrogenic hormones, preventing ovulation.
If your weight is standing between you having a baby, you must take up weight loss seriously. Crash diets and hours of the gym are not the way to go about it. Simply switch to healthy food, avoid having junk from outside and start walking or jogging at least thrice a week. You’ll see the difference. Shedding just a few kilos is bound to increase your fertility.
Too much oestrogen in the body can cause a hormonal imbalance resulting in ovulation irregularities. Fat cells are known to produce oestrogen. So the more fat you have, the more oestrogen your body produces leading to infertility.
Luteal Phase Defect (LPD) is largely associated with infertility and miscarriage. The ideal time between menstruation and ovulation is 14 days, making 12-16 days an average range. The luteal phase is the stage after ovulation when the lining of the uterus becomes thicker preparing for a possible pregnancy. With LPD, the lining does not grow which makes it difficult to conceive or sustain pregnancy in case one conceives.
If you’ve been trying to conceive for a long time now and have had no luck, it’s best to get a fertility test. It’s advised to get your partner tested as well so that the specialist can point out to the problem area accurately. In such circumstances, seeking advice is always beneficial.
Being overweight doesn’t mean that you can’t get pregnant, but it does mean that your body will face difficulty in the process. It’s best to stick to a ‘healthy weight loss’ plan if you’re trying to conceive, visit your doctor and most importantly, stay positive. Good things eventually come along!