How Weight Affects Infertility

 

Marietta OB-GYNThere are often a few factors that can contribute to infertility. For a majority of women, these factors can be addressed and controlled through medication or medical treatment. There is an area, however, which is typically only controlled on a personal level – this being the area of weight. Women who are either overweight or underweight tend to have a difficult time conceiving.

A woman’s body fat has a direct correlation to the hormones that her body produces. Too much fat can cause an overproduction of key reproductive hormones, and too little fat can result in the insufficient production of key reproduction hormones. Fat cells produce the hormone estrogen, and women who are overweight have a higher level of estrogen in their bodies than women who are not overweight. An excessive amount of estrogen can act like a birth control of sorts by preventing adequate ovulation from occurring. Inadequate ovulation causes the “luteal phase defect” – which is when the time to sustain pregnancy is too short. Many women who are overweight also experience irregular cycles, making it difficult to determine what days of the month they are fertile.

Women who are underweight also regularly suffer from irregular ovulation and irregular cycles, making it difficult to determine their window of fertility during each month. In fact, many women who are significantly underweight do not experience ovulation at all due to an insufficient production of GnRH (gonadotrophin releasing hormone). This insufficient production can also lead to inadequate development of a uterine lining capable of supporting pregnancy.

Men’s weight can also affect their own fertility. Low sperm count and sperm mobility problems occur with a greater prevalence in men who are overweight. They tend to have excess fat surrounding their testicles, which leads to an increase in temperature that can kill or negatively effect sperm. Being underweight also has a direct correlation to sperm count, motility, and morphology.

The good news about weight and fertility is that it can be helped in most cases. Women and men who take a proactive stance about reaching and maintaining a healthy weight can lead the body to restore a natural hormonal balance.

At Marietta OB-GYN Affiliates, P.A. we are here for all of our patients, and we provide sensitive and compassionate medical care. We can help you find a method of weight loss (or weight gain) that will increase your chances for conceiving. If you are looking for a group of experienced gynecologists that you can trust to provide excellent women’s and prenatal care, contact Marietta OB-GYN Affiliates, P.A. today.

Posted on behalf of Dr. Carlos Alarcon, Marietta OB-GYN Affiliates, P.A.