The Obesity-Fertility Link
Fertility struggles are frustrating for any couple, especially if you’re not entirely sure what’s causing yours. Chances are pretty good that, for most couples experiencing fertility struggles, there are multiple factors. You identify one factor, deal with it, and another arises. Still, for the woman who’s overweight, one of the most obvious and common factors in fertility is body mass index, or BMI.
The Link Between Weight and Fertility
Research shows that women who are obese or morbidly obese are as much as 50% less likely to be able to conceive than a woman of normal weight, or even a woman who falls into the overweight category. While things look a little better for the overweight woman, around a third of overweight women will have problems trying to conceive, too. Data gathered over several decades bears this out. While being overweight doesn’t guarantee you won’t be able to conceive, it’s one of the largest risk factors.
Problems with Ovulation
One of the ways being overweight affects fertility has to do with ovulation. An overweight or obese woman is less likely to ovulate than a woman who’s not overweight. While she may still experience her menustral cycle, it’s likely to be irregular or to not occur during some months. This is known as “annovulation,” and being underweight is a risk factor, as well.
Problems with Conception
The situation is similar, however, for overweight and obese women who ovulate. Even among women who have regular menstrual cycles, obesity is a risk factor. Overweight women who have a regular cycle are still between 26% and 43% less likely to become pregant, depending on how severely overweight or obese they are.
BMI is Key
BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a measurement used to screen people for health risks. BMI is calculated based on a number of factors, including your height, weight, and waist measurement. A BMI below 18.5 is considered underweight. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered normal. BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight, and a BMI over 30 is obese. There are also further measurements, including differing categories of obesity.
To eliminate weight as a factor from the fertility equation, a woman’s BMI should be in the normal range.
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