How Does Being Overweight Affect My Fertility

Couples troubled to conceive for more than a year (without protection) may have no idea what is causing them infertility. Is it being overweight? Living a poor lifestyle? Having hormonal issues or other genetic factors. There can be many reasons that can affect your fertility, but being overweight can be the common reason among many. As per recent studies, obesity is the cause of fertility complications in 6% of women who have never been pregnant before. Obesity affects fertility by changing the way a woman’s body stores sex hormones. If you are planning to get pregnant and facing complications, seeking consultation with a gynaecologist is a must.

To make this blog informative, we have gathered insights from Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital’s top gynaecologist in Mumbai. By taking references from these insights here we will discuss how being overweight can affect your fertility and what is the solution to treat it well. So, let’s start by understanding the ideal weight for conception.

What Is The Ideal Weight For Conception?

The ideal weight for conception usually depends on how tall you are, as your body mass index (BMI) is a number that is calculated on your height and weight. The healthy BMI range is between 18.5 and 24.9. Adults with a BMI between 25 and 29 are considered overweight, and a BMI over 30 alters your risk of being obese.

Connection of Overweight and Infertility in Women

Having an unhealthy weight can affect a woman’s fertility by causing the following:

Menstrual Disorders: Being overweight disrupts hormonal balance and increases insulin resistance, causing menstrual disorders. Excess fatty tissue produces estrogen while affecting the perfect balance with progesterone.

Hormona Imbalances: Being overweight troubles women’s fertility by causing hormonal imbalances. Excess weight leads to overproduction of estrogen and upsetting the hormonal balance.

Complications with Ovulation: Excess weight can cause insulin resistance, impacting the normal release of eggs from the ovaries. Thus, having a healthy weight is essential for supporting regular ovulation and overall reproductive health.

PCOS- When obesity contributes to Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), it can negatively impact your fertility by leading to the formation of ovarian cysts. Hence, managing weight through a healthy lifestyle and consultation with a gynaecologist is recommended to address PCOS.

Obesity can also trouble the other fertility solutions you look for, such as In-vitro fertilization, ovulation induction and intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

What Happens When You Have A High BMI During Pregnancy?

In case you get pregnant with a high BMI, the risk of complications can be increased, such as:

High blood pressureGestational diabetesPre-eclampsiaThrombosis (blood clots)

You will also be offered an induction or caesarean section at the time of delivery in case of high BMI.

What Risks High BMI Can Lead To A New Born Baby?

Having a high BMI can increase the risk of:

MiscarriageStill BirthPremature Birth (When a baby is born without being fully developed)

You should know the higher the BMI, the greater the risk is. Try to bring down your BMI to reduce the risk of any complications before planning to get pregnant.

However, dieting is not recommended during pregnancy as you might cut out the essential nutrients your baby requires. That is why it is suggested to lose that extra shed before planning your pregnancy. However, getting stressed won’t take you anywhere if you fail to find an effective solution. Seeking the best gynaecologist can help you to plan your treatment effectively. Moreover, there can be various reasons for being overweight. Let’s read on to find more.

Common Reasons For Being Overweight

Eating fast, processed or food with high caloriesEating in large proportionsNot doing yoga and exerciseNot following a healthy dietGenetic issues (obesity running in the family)Drinking too much alcohol

Other than these, there can be medical reasons for the weight gain mentioned below.

Medical Reasons For Weight Gain

Medical reasons for weight gain can include:

Underactive thyroidType 2 diabetesPolycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)Poor mental health causes emotional overeating

What Are Some Tips For Losing Weight?

The best tips for losing weight are:

Maintain a healthy, balanced and calorie-controlled diet.Try to be physically active by doing activities such as walking, jogging, or swimming for at least 2.5 to 5 hours per week.Eat slowly and try to avoid overeating.Set realistic goalsAvoid excess salt and sugar.Avoid sitting for long periods before, during or after your pregnancy.

Though we know these tips can only help to an extent, looking out for the solution when you are planning for a pregnancy may require medical attention. So let’s look over the various treatment options available to manage infertility.

Laparoscopy Surgery a Treatment Option to Manage Infertility- It is an advanced minimally invasive procedure. A small incision is made in the stomach through which a thin tube fitted with a camera and light at one end is inserted. It aids in visualizing the unusual changes inside the abdominal or pelvic organs. To assist surgeries, a laser device may be connected to the laparoscope. In some conditions, a sample of affected tissue may be collected through a laparoscopy technique and sent to a laboratory for a biopsy.

Why Is It Done?

Laparoscopy can be performed on any conditions related to fibroids, infection, cysts, etc. It can be conducted to remove fibroids, cysts or adhesions drilling in the ovary (for PCOS patients).

Connect With A Cosmetic Gynaecologist In Mumbai!

Suffering from being overweight and facing complications to conceive naturally? If your answer is yes, it is high time to decide and seek medical attention by consulting a top-notch gynaecologist. One such Doctor is Dr. Chaitali Mahajan Trivedi, the best cosmetic gynaecologist in Mumbai. With her incredible 25+ years of experience and high patient success rate, she has successfully helped thousands of women have successful pregnancies. So, to take a step forward to make your parenthood dream a reality, connect with her today by visiting Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital!