Let’s face it. We all wage the battle of the bulge daily. In fact, right now there’s a slice of chocolate cake in the office lounge that I’m trying not to eat. But, the fact remains that being overweight or obese can lead to a negative impact upon your fertility.
According to the Practice Committee for the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, “obesity is the most common chronic disease in the United States. In 1998, the National Institutes of Health defined obesity in relation to body mass index (BMI); overweight was defined as a BMI between 25 and 29.9 kg/m2, obesity as a BMI = 30 kg/m2, and morbid obesity as a BMI = 40 kg/m2.”
How does obesity negatively impact your fertility? According to the Practice Committee, “Obesity is frequently associated with menstrual cycle disturbances.” The irregular periods that obese women experience are usually due to anovulation (not ovulating) or oligo-ovulation (ovulating very infrequently). Obesity leads to the excessive production of certain hormones such as insulin and estrogen which can prevent the ovary from ovulating an egg. So, if you are obese, likely you are not ovulating. And, if you aren’t ovulating regularly, then your chance of conceiving is very low.
Luckily, losing just 5 – 10% of your overall body weight, can lead to a dramatic positive impact on your fertility. By shedding some pounds, there is a decrease of the production of the hormones that lead to anovulation. Thus, ovulation is restored and your fertility returns.
Losing weight isn’t easy. If it were easy, we would all look svelte and fit. The best way to lose some pounds (but the most difficult way) is to diet and exercise on a regular basis. Calorie restriction will get you started but weight loss slows as the body’s metabolism slows to compensate for the decreased calorie intake. So, to keep the metabolism elevated, combine dieting with exercise. Exercise will continue the weight loss. And before you know it, you’ll be svelte, fit, and pregnant.
In case you’re wondering, I am not going to eat that slice of chocolate cake.
Source: Fertility and Sterility, Volume 90, Issue 5, Page S21-9, November 2008, Authors: Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Dr. Lowell T. Ku, M.D. is a leading Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility specialist at Dallas IVF, one the nation’s premiere infertility centers. Dr. Ku clarifies the many confusing terms used in the world of Infertility using straightforward explanations.
