Can obesity affect your chances of getting pregnant?
Many combinations of diseases cause infertility in women, often making diagnosis difficult. Learn more about how body weight can affect your chances of getting pregnant and find out what you can do about it.
The relationship between obesity and fertility
Being overweight can affect your chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy baby. Obesity and fertility don't go well together because they can create hormonal imbalances that affect ovulation. Obesity in women is also associated with polycystic ovary syndrome, a common cause of infertility. These conditions can not only make it difficult to conceive, but can also make it difficult to maintain a pregnancy to full term. Women with a particularly high body mass index who are trying to conceive are more prone to the risks of pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and more. Also, maternal obesity can increase the chances that the baby will become obese as an adult or have other health problems.
Can weight loss increase fertility?
If you have an elevated body mass index, losing weight can help many factors in your overall health including your chances of conceiving a child. Commit to a healthy fertility diet and regular exercise program, not only for your baby's health, but for yours as well. However, don't risk your health by losing too much weight. Being underweight can also negatively affect fertility. On average, the ideal BMI for fertility is between 18.5 and 24.9. Every body is different, however, so the best weight goal for you should always be calculated by a health professional.
Consult our fertility experts
At the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Fetal Medicine-Dr. Alexandros Traianos, we work to find possible causes of infertility problems and aim to continuously educate women. Visit our practice to get all your fertility questions answered and start a treatment plan today.