Fertility and Your Weight: The Facts

Fertility and Your Weight

 

Article By: Heather Lindsey

 

- Advertisement - Dropping just 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can increase your chances of having a baby.

Before Erin Anderson, 36, got married in August 2006, her doctor told her that if she and her husband wanted to start a family, losing weight might help her conceive.

The Connection Between Weight and Fertility

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about one in eight couples of childbearing age in the United States has trouble conceiving. If you have a healthy body mass index (BMI) of 20 to 25, you generally have about a 15 to 20 percent chance of getting pregnant in any particular month if you’re under the age of 35. However, as you gain weight and enter the obese category (BMI greater than or equal to 30), this rate can significantly decline.

What’s the Impact of Excess Weight on Fertility?

Extra weight can interfere with the healthy production of hormones needed for conception. Excess fat tissue can cause you to produce too much estrogen throughout your menstrual cycle, inhibiting fertility. Being overweight can also impact other hormones that cause menstrual irregularities and prevent ovulation. Additionally, fat tissue may increase cholesterol and abnormal lipids levels, discouraging healthy blood flow to the uterine lining.

This can prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterine wall or make keeping a pregnancy difficult, explaining Dr. Scott Roseff, director of the Palm Beach Center for Reproductive Medicine in Wellington, FL. Even infertility treatments can be negatively impacted by excess weight. For example, studies indicate that obesity can negatively impact embryo quality in women under 35 undergoing IVF.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Weight

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that is characterized by many signs and symptoms, one of which can include insulin resistance. A genetic predisposition plays a role in developing PCOS, but weight gain can also trigger it, says Dr. Roseff. About half of women with PCOS are overweight. Women who are overweight but do not have PCOS can also experience insulin resistance and related fertility problems, adds Laurence Jacobs, MD, who practices in the Chicago area with Fertility Centers of Illinois.

Giving Fertility a Boost

Whether or not you have PCOS, shedding pounds can often help you conceive if you’re overweight. As little as 5 percent to 10 percent weight loss will significantly improve pregnancy rates for women, explaining Dr. Jacobs. Increasing intake of complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, and limiting refined carbohydrates such as white bread, cookies, and cake, can improve fertility by balancing hormones and normalizing blood sugar and insulin levels, says Dr. Jacobs.

Medications such as metformin can also help you process insulin better, as does exercise. The CDC recommends 150 minutes weekly of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise such as brisk walking or 75 minutes weekly of vigorous-intensity exercise such as jogging in addition to two days of muscle-strengthening activity. If you have concerns about your weight and fertility, Dr. Jacobs suggests consulting a reproductive endocrinologist who can not only provide fertility testing but also recommend various weight loss and fitness programs, nutritionists, and psychological counseling.

Conclusion

In conclusion, losing weight, especially for those who are overweight, can significantly improve fertility and overall reproductive health. By understanding the connection between weight and fertility and incorporating healthy lifestyle changes, such as a balanced diet and regular exercise, couples can increase their chances of conception and reduce their risk of infertility-related issues.

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