The Link Between Weight Loss and Fertility

/ / Blog / August 15, 2017

For many of us planning a family was just that; a plan, that we are going to try and have children. Before we know it, we are learning how to wrestle with an infant carrier. For others, it can be a daily frustration that consumes their every waking moment. For the latter half, we find many variables that contribute to infertility. One of the more common connections is Obesity.

Obesity is linked to infertility due to ovulation problems. Many obese women or those that have a BMI over 30 do not ovulate regularly. If one is not ovulating regularly, then pregnancy is a gamble. Okay, so, lose weight and start ovulating regularly, right? Great idea because losing weight is not only healthier for you, but will also prevent pregnancy complications. Unfortunately, for many women, losing weight can seem nearly impossible. When trying to make the connection researchers found even women with BMIs less than 30 were having trouble conceiving. Infertility can be a result of  many variables (genetic abnormalities, infectious or environmental agents, delayed childbearing and diseases); however, one of the more common causes is polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that causes hormones to be out of balance, making it difficult to become pregnant. Having PCOS also makes it difficult to lose weight. Women with PCOS have small non-harmful cysts that grow on their ovaries causing hormone imbalances. These hormone imbalances not only cause infertility they cause other symptoms such as, acne, facial hair, weight gain, trouble losing weight, irregular periods, depression and increased insulin levels resulting in diabetes.

Prevention of infertility is based on  identifying the cause and treating it. Sometimes the cause may be untreatable or sometimes you may find that you are not just treating one variable. It could be as simple as exercising and losing weight to improve fertility. In any case, meeting with a physician and identifying the cause early could help prevent infertility and/or begin the process of infertility treatment. It also may help prevent further health related problems like diabetes.

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 Written by Windy Rhoton, RN, Assistant Program Coordinator, TriStar Centennial Center for Weight Management


TriStar Centennial Center for Weight Management author