Weight is a sensitive subject for everyone, but for those trying to conceive, it is important to review and understand its impact on fertility and pregnancy. Being either underweight or overweight can make it more difficult to get pregnant, decrease success rates with fertility treatments, and lead to complications in pregnancy. <\/p>\n
However, you can optimize your chances for a healthy baby by learning more about the impact weight can have on fertility and taking steps to reach a healthier weight.<\/p>\n
Body mass index (BMI) is a simple calculation based on height and weight. While not perfect for predicting health, it’s an easy way to study and compare the impact of weight on health and is used in most scientific studies. (You can calculate your BMI here<\/a>). <\/p>\n The World Health Organization<\/a> established the following categories of weight based on BMI in 2004 (1):<\/p>\n By this definition, in the United States, 50% of reproductive-age women are overweight (2) and 37% of all adults (men and women) are obese (3).<\/p>\n Being overweight impacts overall health by increasing the risk of hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, cancer, and overall mortality (4). The impact of weight on fertility can often be overlooked because couples seeking help to conceive can be young and the effects of these chronic conditions may not yet be evident.<\/p>\n Anyone seeking fertility treatment or trying to conceive should be aware of lifestyle factors that can influence the chances of pregnancy, with or without treatment. Physicians often recommend quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, sleep hygiene, and self-care, but they often leave out the weight discussion.<\/p>\n Weight is a difficult and sensitive subject to bring up to a couple who is already struggling with another difficult and sensitive subject: infertility. But we cannot ignore the weight discussion if we really want to help patients conceive and bring a healthy baby to term. <\/p>\n Optimizing weight can empower patients to increase their chances of pregnancy, with or without fertility treatment, and improve the chances of a healthy pregnancy and baby!<\/p>\n Here are the facts:<\/p>\n Being under or overweight can impact fertility in women in multiple ways:<\/p>\n Obesity has been associated with poor sperm parameters on semen analyses, but studies are conflicting on the impact of male obesity on fertility treatment and pregnancy outcomes:<\/p>\n Being an unhealthy weight can increase risks in pregnancy:<\/p>\n Awareness is the first step, and by reading this information, you are taking a positive step forward. Absorbing all of this information at once can seem overwhelming, but knowledge is power. <\/p>\n Not all couples with obesity will have the poor outcomes listed above, but fertility and pregnancy at an unhealthy weight does carry more risks, and we all need to be aware of what these risks are.<\/p>\n If you are underweight, gaining weight with the help of a nutritionist can be key. If you suffer from an eating disorder and struggle with body image and weight gain, start by asking for help<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you are overweight, here are some steps you can take to move towards a healthier weight:<\/p>\n Bariatric surgery can help with weight loss by surgically restricting the stomach to limit diet intake and can be one option for weight loss. Nutritional deficiencies can result in this type of weight loss option due to limited absorption. <\/p>\n Pregnancies can be healthy and successful after these procedures if the nutritional status of the mother is monitored closely.<\/p>\n Some research recommends waiting 1-2 years after surgery to conceive to avoid fetal exposure to rapid weight loss and nutritional deficiencies during that time (23) but other research finds reassuring outcomes with pregnancies within a year of the surgery (24). Ask your medical provider about options.<\/p>\n Changing lifestyle, diet, and exercise routines can benefit someone for a lifetime but actual, sustainable weight loss can take time. We get it, you’re not Frieren<\/a> so you want to lose weight quickly and when you\u2019re trying to conceive, time can be against you. Fertility potential, egg supply, and success rates with fertility treatment decrease with age and it can be incredibly frustrating to think about waiting for fertility treatment to lose weight, especially if the couple is older or the female partner has diminished ovarian reserve.<\/p>\n The balance of weight loss and time to fertility treatment is an important discussion to have with your doctor and every situation is unique. Find the right balance for you with your care team.<\/p>\n Now you know the facts and you have the knowledge to move forward. Take this information in a positive way—don’t let your weight define you or defeat you. <\/p>\n The ultimate goal is completing your family in a healthy way, and in the process, you can discover habits that lead to a healthier life with your family.<\/p>\n References<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
Weight Impacts Fertility for Women<\/h2>\n
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Weight Impacts Fertility for Men<\/h2>\n
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Weight Impacts Pregnancy Outcomes<\/h2>\n
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How Can You Optimize Your Weight?<\/h2>\n
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What about significantly high BMI and surgical options for weight loss?<\/h2>\n
What about the time it takes to lose weight?<\/h2>\n
Moving Forward<\/h2>\n