The modern world rehabilitates puffies. A full woman is sexy - say the media. Even famous couturiers create collections for fat women and release XXL models on the catwalk. Is it possible to get pregnant with obesity and is it necessary to lose weight before pregnancy? Isn't it better to give up diets and just enjoy life in your big body? Let's see what doctors think about this.
Ideal mass
Before planning a pregnancy, you need to determine your ideal weight for conceiving a child. And this is not a model weight at all. Exhaustion has the same negative (if not worse!) effect on conception as excess weight.
One of the most popular diagnostic methods is the calculation of BMI (body mass index). In order to calculate the index, you need to know your weight and height.
BMI = weight in kg / height in meters squared.
For example, let's calculate BMI with a height of 170 and a weight of 60 kg.
BMI=60/1.7X1.7
The ideal weight for conception should be as close as possible to normal BMI - 18-25. Being underweight or overweight can interfere with pregnancy.
Significant deviations from the norm are underweight and obesity.
Is it always necessary to lose weight
First you need to determine the cause of the high BMI. It should be understood that overweight is not always obese. Sometimes “excess” weight is swelling (for certain diseases) or an individual feature.
They talk about an individual feature in the case when the BMI is above the norm, but the proportions of the body are observed. This phenomenon can be observed in athletes with well-developed muscles and dense bone tissue.
Spanish volleyball player LILI
World No. 1 Serena Williams
In any case, with borderline values, it is necessary to take into account the proportionality of your body. Muscle tissue is much denser than adipose tissue, therefore, its contribution to the total body weight is more significant.
There are methods for calculating the percentage of adipose tissue in the body. At home, this percentage cannot be determined. Such diagnostics are done in private clinics, in public health centers, as well as in fitness centers. The norm for conception is 17-25%. If your BMI is above normal, but the fat content does not exceed 25%, then losing weight is not necessary for conception.
How completeness affects conception
The weight or body weight of a person plays an important role in the regulation of the hormonal background of a woman. In this case, it is not the mass itself that matters, but the fat content in the body. For example, a broad-boned girl weighing 67 kg, most likely, does not have excess fat. And if a short, asthenic girl with thin wrists weighs the same, then she does not interfere with losing weight.
In recent years, doctors have discovered that subcutaneous fat is essentially a large endocrine (that is, hormone-producing) organ. Obesity is a hormonal disease. With obesity in the body, changes in the endocrine system occur. Hormonal failure leads to metabolic disorders by the type of lipogenesis. In this case, in the body, fat begins to form from carbohydrates and is deposited in the subcutaneous fat.
The exact mechanism of how body weight affects conception is not described in the medical literature. Excess body weight does not have a direct impact on the reproductive function of a woman. But in favor of the fact that excess weight prevents pregnancy, many observations of doctors speak.
Sex hormones and obesity
Any hormonal disorders in the body are not isolated. Ovulation in a woman's body occurs under the influence of sex hormones. Sex hormones include estrogen and progestogens. Estrogens are synthesized in the ovaries and affect ovulation. Progestogens or pregnancy hormones are synthesized by the corpus luteum, placenta and a small part of the adrenal cortex.
Normal body weight depends on the physique.
The formation of the egg, its ability to fertilize and the successful implantation of the embryo also occurs under the influence of sex hormones. Uncoordinated work of estrogens and progestogens leads to an unsuccessful attempt at conception.
It is possible to determine whether weight affects conception by the presence of hormonal disorders of sexual function. Sex hormones regulate all the processes that precede conception: ovulation and the movement of the egg through the fallopian tube, the function of the corpus luteum and endometrium.
When the egg is fertilized, the regulation of sex hormones continues. Successful implantation of the embryo into the endometrium and successful formation of chorionic villi also depend on the production of estrogen and progesterone.
Hormonal imbalance in the body can affect the ability to conceive. And adipose tissue, in turn, affects the synthesis of sex hormones. If there is too much of it or, conversely, too little, then the hormonal balance is disturbed, and there may be no ovulation and conception.
obesity and infertility
Does Being Overweight Affect Conception? It has been found that overweight people find it difficult to conceive a child. Many experts link overweight and infertility.
At the same time, one can speak of infertility only in the case when unsuccessful attempts to get pregnant have occurred for more than one year. Unsuccessful conception from the first attempts can be a physiological norm.
You can't get pregnant for a long time and your doctor says that you have hormonal problems (for example, there is no ovulation, corpus luteum function is impaired, etc.)? Perhaps the reason lies in your obesity. With weight loss, the balance of hormones can be restored. Although it is possible that in addition to obesity, you have other causes of infertility. Therefore, do not take "weight loss" measures as a panacea. You need to be examined and treated.
What is the risk
It has been established that in women, obesity of the 2nd and 3rd degrees contribute to the disruption of the menstrual cycle and ovulation. Although there is no unequivocal answer to the question of why being overweight affects conception, there is no one in modern medicine.
It is possible to determine whether it is possible to become pregnant with obesity of the 1st degree after examining the hormonal background of a woman for the functioning of sex hormones. Often a small deviation from the norm does not affect the reproductive system.
However, even mild obesity will make carrying a baby physically exhausting for you. Not to mention serious deviations from the norm. Pregnancy with obesity often becomes a high-risk pregnancy. High blood pressure, swelling, varicose veins, heart problems - this is not a complete list of complications. Therefore, fat women should lose weight before conception, even if the hormonal background is normal.
How to lose weight to conceive
When planning a pregnancy, you need to determine your ideal weight for conception. If you are overweight, then you need to lose weight in order to get pregnant. There are many ways to lose weight and improve your fitness. To achieve a positive result, you need to review your diet.
Proper nutrition and physical activity contribute to the reduction of adipose tissue and the development of muscle. Sufficient intake of carbohydrates, proteins and fats normalizes the metabolism in the body. And physical training will help a woman cope with pregnancy and prepare for childbirth.
"Extreme" weight loss is impossible. Low-calorie and especially low-fat diets hurt a woman's endocrine system. Menstruation may stop, ovulation will disappear. Be sure to include fats in your diet (albeit in modest amounts). And the total caloric content of the diet when losing weight should not fall below 1500 kcal per day.
Exhausting physical activity, especially for unathletic women, will also not bring anything but harm. You need to do a little, gradually increasing the intensity of the exercises.
You need to lose weight slowly (about 0.5 kilos per week), otherwise rapid weight loss will exacerbate hormonal problems.
got pregnant and lost weight
Sometimes the pregnancy itself introduces an adjustment into the woman's body. In the first trimester, intoxications or early preeclampsia of pregnant women often develop. Clinically, preeclampsia is expressed in dyspeptic disorders.
With dyspepsia, pregnant women suffer from nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. In such cases, they say "got pregnant and lost weight." Preeclampsia during pregnancy is an undesirable phenomenon, since the child from the first days of its development must receive the necessary amount of nutrients and minerals.
To determine whether your excess weight affects conception, you need to each on your own. With any fluctuations in the direction of excess weight, be sure to lose weight. Optimal body weight, good health of a woman shape the future health of a child.
Competently: gynecologist's comment
Obstetrician-gynecologist Elena Artemyeva answers questions from patients 
— My height is 172 and weight is 51 kg. The monthly cycle is irregular. I haven't been able to get pregnant for four years now. Doctors say it's because of the weight and recommend IVF. Will it be possible to bear a child after IVF, given the lack of body weight?
- Your ideal weight for conception is in the range of 55-73 kg. If for some reason it is not possible to recover to these numbers and if it is not possible to get pregnant for so long, IVF is recommended. You will be able to bear a child, but try to eat very well during pregnancy.
- I'm 28 years old. We have been planning a child for 7 months, but fertilization does not occur. My husband and I went through an examination, everything is fine. With a height of 168 cm, I weigh 94 kilograms. I should lose weight, but I don’t know how the diet will affect conception. I want to try a vegetable diet.
- Weight for conceiving a child really matters. Losing weight is good for you, losing weight will increase the chances of conception. But rigid diets adversely affect the hormonal background. The diet should be balanced, and in a strict vegetable diet, proteins and fats are practically absent.
I have been overweight since childhood. Now I weigh 95 kg. My gynecologist said that the chances of pregnancy are low until I lose weight. What nutrition is necessary before planning a pregnancy and how to lose weight?
- You need to be examined by an endocrinologist. Often, with the endocrine form of obesity, special approaches are needed, and nutritional correction will not be enough. Be patient, you can't lose weight quickly. First of all, you need to organize the food. The calorie content of the daily diet is 1700-1900 kcal. You need to eat often, but little by little (5-6 meals). Focus on light foods - vegetables, fruits, low-fat sour milk, fish. Drink plenty of clean water - at least 2 liters. Don't eat at night. Eliminate smoked, salty, canned food, sweets, alcohol, limit flour. Spend at least one fasting day per week. Physical activity is required.
How are weight and conception related? Is it possible to get pregnant with a weight above and below the norm? To some, these questions may seem far-fetched. But in fact, putting weight in order can make the dream of motherhood a reality.
Women trying to get pregnant should pay attention to many factors: age, lifestyle, previous diseases, etc. However, few of them know that body weight is an important element that affects fertilization. This is an important factor that not only helps to get pregnant, but is also key when it comes to successful gestation.
Adipose tissue and hormones, or does weight affect the conception of a child?
Most people know that sex hormones are produced by the ovaries. However, almost 30% of them are the result of the activity of adipose tissue. Therefore, we can argue that there is an important relationship between it (and therefore weight) and the fertility of women and men.
What kind of weight affects the ability to conceive women - small or large? This factor can be influenced by both underweight and overweight. Due to the fact that adipose tissue is part of the endocrine system, hormonal imbalance can affect metabolism, which can lead to obesity.
To find out if the relationship between our adipose tissue and hormones is “correct”, it is enough to determine the ratio of height and weight, that is, you should use the Body Mass Index (BMI - Body Mass Index). To get it, you need to divide the weight by the height squared. You can also find a ready-made table with values on the Internet or in books, medical magazines.
Weight and conception: we consider different options
After the calculation or search in the sources, our result should be compared with the standard parameters. It is best if the resulting numbers are in the range from 18.5 to 24.99. And here are the results that should worry us:
- a result below 18.5 means underweight - before attempting to conceive a child, it is necessary to systematically gain weight;
- index greater than 25 to 29.9 - overweight. In order to get pregnant without problems, it is better to lose a few or several tens of kilograms;
- more than 30 is an indicator of obesity. There are good reasons to believe that this factor will cause a lot of trouble when trying to get pregnant.
Overweight and conception: problems of expectant mothers with overweight
Is it possible to get pregnant with a lot of weight? Even a small excess of kilograms can lead to fertility problems. This is due to an excess amount of estrogens, which affect the disruption of the ovulatory cycle or contribute to its absence.
The problem of the influence of excess weight on conception also applies to those women who menstruate regularly and have no problems in this area. Keep in mind that too many kilograms can contribute to much more significant disorders, such as an increase in insulin or testosterone levels, or the appearance of common female diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome.
The problem of extra kilos can and should be analyzed in terms of acquired and congenital overweight. In the first case, the “wrong” result is often the result of an incorrect diet, excess sugar and fat, etc. This situation allows you to lose extra pounds relatively smoothly.
However, if we are talking about a person whose overweight is associated with a genetic predisposition, then this is a more complex problem. Therefore, such women should carefully control their food intake, resort to physical activity and diet.
If the question of whether it is possible to get pregnant with a weight above the norm was decided positively, and the woman managed to conceive safely, this does not mean the end of her problems. What other risks can be expected in an interesting position?
- Being overweight can cause miscarriage.
- Often leads to diabetes mellitus or arterial hypertension.
- Often, the result of extra pounds is a longer birth (often with a more difficult prenatal period) or the need for a caesarean section.
- However, the problems do not end with the mother alone. Her obesity or overweight can cause diseases in the child. For example, neural tube defects and other congenital diseases are common.
How does being underweight affect conception?
The first sign associated with the influence of lack of body weight on the hormonal background is a violation or absence of the menstrual cycle. An indicator that something is wrong may be irregular ovulation. Hence the answer to the question, is it possible to get pregnant with a small weight, for example, 45 kg? All this leads to difficulties in conceiving a child.
Too thin people should be interested in what is the reason for their condition - is it a consequence of excessive weight loss due to diets, genetic problems, diseases or some kind of disorder?
Even if with a small weight it is possible to achieve the goal of becoming a mother, then insufficient weight can complicate the entire “interesting” period with an increase in nausea and vomiting. Also, low body weight can be the main cause of problems with pregnancy.
Impact of Eating Disorders on Women's Fertility
Today, there are many diseases that have a significant impact on the chances of getting pregnant. Particular attention should be paid to situations where a woman in her life has resisted or still has problems associated with anorexia or bulimia. These ailments violate the stability of the hormonal background, which makes fertilization difficult.
Anorexia and conception
In the case of the first disease, we are talking about a very modest amount and variety of foods, and often exhausting workouts - down to a dangerously low level of body weight. Therefore, without treatment, anorexia can lead to the cessation of the menstrual and ovulatory cycles, as well as serious disorders in the reproductive system.
Bulimia and conception
People who suffer from bulimia, due to constant overeating and then "returning" food through vomiting, can also have problems conceiving. Despite the fact that, as a rule, their body weight is normal, there are menstrual disorders. In this case, even the weight that does not differ from the norm and the conception of a child are “friends” badly.
Is there any chance?
In both cases, we are dealing with a depleted diet that does not provide the body with the necessary trace elements, minerals, nutrients or vitamins. Therefore, the libido of patients with such eating disorders is often very low, the quality of the eggs is not the best, and the uterus does not create enough favorable conditions for the development of the fetus.
However, treatment increases the chances of pregnancy in women with bulimia or anorexia. Therefore, despite so many threats and obstacles, there is a very real chance of becoming a mother.
Man's weight and conception: problems concern not only women
Of course, it is women who, as carrying new life in their bodies, should pay special attention to their weight. However, it should be remembered that "it takes two to tango." Therefore, the answer to the question of whether a man’s weight affects conception sounds like this: yes, the stronger sex can also have fertility problems in the case of an “incorrect” body weight.
- Sperm production can be impaired if a woman's partner is overweight.
- Also, extra pounds can increase the temperature of the testicles, which is dangerous for the health of the male intimate sphere.
- Excess adipose tissue causes the conversion of testosterone to female estrone, which reduces the production of sperm and also reduces its quality, which can adversely affect a woman's fertilization.
- Male libido is at risk when overweight.
- Obese men often have difficulty getting aroused and getting an erection, as fatty deposits block blood flow to the penis.
It may seem that body weight does not significantly affect whether a woman can become pregnant or not. Often couples look for the root of evil in some kind of illness, disorder, or mental problem. However, in a number of cases, it is enough to simply think about whether a large or small weight does not affect not only the forms, but also the conception. The good news is that this is a problem that can be solved - unlike many others.
Conceiving a child is a responsible step for parents. It is advisable to undergo a medical examination before this, but many, alas, do not do it. It is so arranged by nature that women, a priori, tend to accumulate adipose tissue more than men. And many women, especially those who give birth not for the first time, have questions:
- Does obesity affect conception?
- How to get rid of excess weight for successful conception?
You should start with, and what, in fact, changes occur in a woman's body due to overweight?
The consequences of obesity for the female body, conception and overweight
Firstly, being overweight in a woman often causes hormonal changes. The development of insulin resistance disrupts the level of female hormones in the body, which adversely affects the maturation of eggs and, as a result, the reproductive function of women. According to some studies, insulin resistance occurs in 84% of people with high levels of fat (triglycerides) in the blood.
On the other hand, the same reason can cause an increase in the level of male hormones, in particular testosterone. An increase in its level also negatively affects the maturation of eggs. In addition, adipose tissues tend to accumulate, in addition to testosterone, andostenoids, estrone, progesterone in concentrations that are several times higher than the normal concentration of these hormones in the blood.
Already these possible consequences of being overweight allow us to answer the question “does obesity affect conception” in the affirmative - yes, it does, and significantly. But that's not all. The arrow of the scales in the "red zone" is still
- elevated cholesterol levels;
- changes in insulin resistance leading to hyperinsulism.
- In overweight women, disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary system are also possible. This can lead to the development of hyperprolactinemia and an increase in the content of the hormone prolactin in the blood, which, in turn, affects the regularity of the menstrual cycle.
- polycystic ovary syndrome is also often a constant companion of obesity;
- fat deposits in the abdomen (including internal) are the cause of impaired blood flow in the abdominal region and, as a result, insufficient blood supply to the pelvic organs;
- as a result, hormonal imbalances can develop - endometriosis of the uterus, fibroma, etc.
Of particular note is the risk of developing obesity during puberty in girls. This can lead to serious consequences in the future, even after the root cause is eliminated.
Conclusion. Does Being Overweight Affect Conception?
Excessive weight in a woman, even from the point of view of aesthetics, is already the reason for visiting a dietitian. But if you have decided to conceive a child, then a doctor's consultation in this case is simply mandatory. In addition to the above reasons, we should not forget that obesity and its accompanying hormonal imbalances can not only become an obstacle to conception, but also turn into very serious problems when bearing a child.
Excess weight cannot directly affect the conception itself, however, it can affect the processes of egg formation and implantation processes in a woman’s body, as well as the quality of sperm in men, and this effect is not positive. A large number of specialists deal with the problems of conception in people with obesity, because this disease is increasingly spreading around the world and entails the growth of many comorbidities that significantly worsen the quality of life of patients.
Any significant fluctuations in weight, both up and down, affect the ability to conceive and bear a child normally. For a man, body weight indicators are also important not only because of possible problems with potency due to excess weight, but also because of violations of the quality of seminal fluid. Many factors explain the problems with conception in people suffering from infertility, and normalization of weight in itself can eliminate more problems.
Determining whether a person has obesity is usually not difficult. However, it is better if a specialist deals with this issue, since people often evaluate themselves in a biased and subjective way, underestimating or overestimating the percentage of overweight. There are no clear figures for the ideal weight for everyone, this indicator is individual and depends on other parameters of the body.
Most often, when determining the optimal weight, including for conception, experts use the body mass index. This indicator is determined quite simply: you need to calculate your height in centimeters squared and divide your body weight in kilograms by the resulting figure. There is a gradation of body mass index values indicating the probable degree of obesity or underweight.
In addition to this method, there are also special devices that are able to determine the fluid content in the body, the percentage of adipose and muscle tissue and their ratio. This is necessary because with the same weight and height, and therefore the same body mass index, two different people can have different amounts of adipose tissue. For example, one will have an excess of body weight due to body fat, and the other will have it due to the pronounced development of muscles. In the first case, obesity will be diagnosed, in the second, a high body mass index will only indicate a significant degree of development of muscle tissue and the body will maintain normal proportions.
The ideal or optimal weight for conceiving a child should be in the range of normal body mass index values. Deviation from these indicators may be the cause of failure when planning a pregnancy. Thus, normal values are in the range from 18.5 to 30. Lower calculation results indicate a body weight deficit of varying severity, which necessarily requires correction. A child in this condition may develop poorly in utero, because he does not receive the amount of nutrients he needs. A body mass index greater than 30 indicates the development of incipient obesity (the so-called preobesity) or obesity of varying degrees, from mild to severe morbid.
If the values of the body mass index are borderline, or slightly above the norm, this may indicate not only the presence of obesity, but also edema, and may also be an individual feature of the body. To exclude possible overdiagnosis of obesity, additional studies are being carried out, including instrumental and laboratory tests. So, the norm of the percentage of adipose tissue in the body, which does not prevent conception, is in the range from 17 to 25%. Thus, even if the body mass index exceeds the norm, but the percentage of body fat is not more than 25, it is not necessary to lose weight for a normal pregnancy.
Today, there are many formulas and author's methods for calculating the ideal weight, depending on age, gender, and individual characteristics of the body. In some cases, their use is necessary, since generally accepted methods are averaged for the general population and are not always suitable for an individual assessment of the patient's health status. The correct use of these methods and the interpretation of the results is possible only by a specialist, so you should not independently analyze the results of examinations. An individual approach to each patient allows us to most effectively assess the degree of overweight problems and develop optimal tactics for quickly and sparingly achieving ideal body weight in order to make conception possible.
On the way to achieving the optimal weight for conception, you should not go to extremes. For example, often women begin to completely avoid products containing lipids. This is fundamentally wrong, since the synthesis of many hormones and biologically active substances requires exactly the products of fat metabolism, including cholesterol. The synthesis of female sex hormones in the required amount without this condition is impossible, so the state of the reproductive system will only worsen on such a diet. The diet must contain eggs, nuts, various oils of vegetable origin.
When the patient reaches a weight that has been determined for her as optimal for pregnancy and childbearing, it is also necessary to maintain this weight at the achieved level. This will help to discipline yourself, form the right eating behavior, accustom yourself to constant sufficient physical activity. Such a lifestyle will allow you to feel better, be in good shape, get pregnant easily and endure pregnancy as easily as possible, without complications. Achieving optimal weight also helps to avoid a large number of diseases that aggravate obesity, and to eliminate existing health problems if possible.
For the entire pregnancy, a woman should normally gain no more than 12 kg, provided that her body weight was normal for her before pregnancy. If, before pregnancy, the patient was overweight and was diagnosed with obesity, then it is recommended that she gain no more than 8 kg during pregnancy so as not to cause complications for the body associated with a combination of gestation and overweight.
In addition, obese pregnant women need more careful monitoring of their condition and the condition of the fetus. Mandatory control of blood and urine glucose levels, as well as at least a two-time glucose tolerance test, which is carried out at certain times according to the current protocol for the management of pregnancy in women at an increased risk of developing diabetes, which include obese patients.
Pregnant women are given recommendations on the regimen of food intake, the principles of compiling their diet, and lifestyle in general. Subject to all recommendations, the course of pregnancy may not be overshadowed by complications, and childbirth will be normal and physiological.
Thus, overweight can affect conception only when an excess of adipose tissue is proven, since it is obesity that can lead to infertility.
In this case, it makes sense to undergo an examination in order to identify direct and indirect causes of infertility. Sometimes the examination reveals factors that, it would seem, do not directly affect a woman's ability to become pregnant. So, in particular, women often have a question - does being overweight affect conception and ovulation, and how does this happen.
It is a well-known fact that excess weight is not only not aesthetic, but can also cause various diseases. The easiest way to determine if a woman is overweight is to subtract 110 from her height in centimeters. The resulting figure is the ideal weight for this height. Exceeding the norm of weight by more than 20% becomes a serious cause for alarm. There is a formula for calculating body mass index. Body mass index is obtained by dividing body weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters. If the resulting index ranges from 20 to 25, then the weight is normal, above 25 - overweight, above 30 - these are already signs of obesity.
There is no direct relationship between a woman's ability to get pregnant and her weight. There are many examples when overweight women give birth to several children, and they do not have any problems. And vice versa, when women with ideal weight cannot get pregnant for years. And, nevertheless, there is every reason to believe that the presence of excess weight in a woman can be an indirect cause of infertility. There are a number of facts in support of this opinion.
In overweight women, the menstrual cycle is much more likely to occur under the influence of the endocrine factor, which leads to infertility. Often, reducing excess weight by at least 10% leads to the normalization of the menstrual cycle.
Excess weight disrupts the balance of sex hormones in a woman's body, which in turn affects conception and ovulation in the most direct way. For example, female sex hormones (estrogens and progesterone) regulate the process of ovulation. During ovulation, the egg matures. Progesterone prepares a woman's body to accept a mature egg, estrogens, in turn, control progesterone. Fat cells activate the production and accumulation of a large amount of estrogen, the excess of which blocks progesterone. As a result, ovulation is disrupted and the egg does not mature.
Accumulated in body fat, estrogens send signals to the pituitary gland in the brain, which produces FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) about its excess. As a result, FSH production decreases, which disrupts ovarian function and ovulation.
In addition, an increased level of estrogen in a woman's body creates the risk of the formation of various types of tumors, such as fibroids and uterine fibroids, which is also often the cause of infertility.
Another unpleasant consequence of excess estrogen in the body of an overweight woman is endometriosis of the uterus (growth of the lining of the uterus). As a result of hormonal disorders, the uterine mucosa is not completely shed during menstrual flow, which negatively affects ovulation, and as a result leads to infertility.
The consequence of being overweight in a woman can be a disease such as polycystic ovaries. Violation of the hormonal background in a woman's body leads to the accumulation of partially mature eggs in the ovaries, which again leads to a violation of the menstrual cycle. With polycystic ovaries increase the production of androgen hormones, the accumulation of which slows down ovulation, often ovulation can stop completely. Polycystic ovaries are more common in women over 30 who already have children, and can cause secondary infertility.
In addition to hormonal disorders, excess weight can cause other physiological changes in a woman's body, leading to infertility. Of great importance is the distribution of body fat. If fat deposits are evenly distributed, this is not as fraught with consequences as the accumulation of fatty tissues in certain places on a woman's body. But, unfortunately, most often most of the body fat is formed in a woman in the abdomen and thighs. In this case, the blood flow in this area of the body is disturbed, and, accordingly, the metabolism is disturbed in the internal genital organs of the woman (in the uterus and ovaries). These disorders can lead to the formation of adhesions in the fallopian tubes, which directly affects the patency in them, and is often the cause of infertility.
Overweight is especially dangerous for girls during puberty and the formation of the childbearing functions of a future woman. Violation of the hormonal background during this period can have the most serious consequences. Excess weight during the period of maturation of the girl disrupts the hormonal background. Hormones, in turn, change the structure of the girl's body, which can contribute to the accumulation of body fat. This vicious circle must be controlled precisely during the ripening period. In addition, according to experts, excess weight in adolescence contributes to early puberty, and further instability of the menstrual cycle and disruption of the ovulation process.
It is impossible to say in advance whether excess weight will affect conception and ovulation in each specific case. When planning a pregnancy, it is still desirable to bring your body into full readiness for stress. And reducing excess weight, as a way to a healthy lifestyle, should be one of the first places in the process of preparing for pregnancy. However, it is completely unacceptable to exhaust your body with diets and many hours of training when planning a pregnancy. The process of losing weight should be gradual and painless for the body of the expectant mother.
Gynecologists, endocrinologists recommend paying attention to the problem of obesity to young couples trying to get pregnant for many years. Overweight and infertility are inextricably linked. Specialists point to concomitant diseases resulting from overweight. The vegetative-vascular system, reproductive organs, gastrointestinal tract suffer, endocrine disorders occur. The cause of infertility often lies in these pathologies.
Reproductologists and gynecologists have been dealing with the problem of overweight or underweight for a long time. It has been proven that obesity, as well as anorexia, negatively affects the reproductive system. It is difficult for a woman not only to become pregnant, but also to endure, give birth to a healthy child. In men, spermograms deteriorate. Sex cells become non-viable, inactive.
How to determine the ideal weight
Checking for obesity is easy. In the modern world, it is customary to focus on BMI - body mass index. It is calculated using weight, height data. A simple calculation is to subtract the number 100 (for a woman) and 110 (for a man) from height. Example: a woman's height is 162 kg, subtract 100 from this value, get 62 - the ideal weight.
Obesity and infertility in women
The chances of getting pregnant are reduced in women who are overweight. Obesity causes negative manifestations of the body, emerging pathologies.
- Excess body weight leads to serious disorders of the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, when it is harder for a woman to conceive, bear and give birth to a child.
- the amount of estrogen increases, which also leads to infertility (hormonal disorders become the root cause of the unlikely natural conception).
- fertility occurs, excess weight provokes a decline in reproductive functions.
- obese women often have a difficult pregnancy, a high risk of premature birth, early miscarriages.
- obesity is the cause of menstrual irregularities, its absence.
These effects can cause infertility in women. They do not appear together. Just one item can affect the functioning of the reproductive system.
Obesity and male infertility
The chances of getting pregnant are reduced when it comes to male obesity. Often, overweight leads to the fact that a married couple has to seek the help of reproductive specialists. In the stronger sex, obesity and infertility are associated with impaired secretory function, hormonal imbalance. The importance of sex hormones, testosterone and prolactin, is incredibly high. Normally, the former should outperform the latter. If there is an increased level of prolactin in the blood, we can talk about a violation of spermatogenesis, a deterioration in the reproductive function of a man.
Conception is unlikely with obesity in the stronger sex for the following reasons:
- as a result of excess weight, the function of the bladder is disturbed, retrograde ejaculation occurs;
- the quality of the genetic material, mobility and viability of spermatozoa suffer;
- the inability to conduct a full-fledged sexual intercourse;
- due to body weight lines, most men develop varicocele (scrotal varicose veins), which leads to infertility.
Obesity and IVF
Many couples resort to in vitro fertilization due to being overweight. Such a decision can be prompted by a doctor when infertility is found in one of the spouses. But the chances of an excellent pregnancy, a successful conception are reduced if you do not undergo special training before IVF.
Obesity is the reason for several attempts at artificial conception. They don't always succeed. In order to prepare as much as possible for the procedure, to reduce the risks, you must adhere to the following rules.
- A woman or a man suffering from obesity should go on a special diet. Their daily menu excludes fatty foods that are high in calories. You need to pay attention to fiber, plant foods. Forget about fast food, pastries, carbonated drinks.
- An unhealthy lifestyle and reduced activity are considered a factor that reduces the chances of conception. Both spouses are advised to quit smoking, to exclude alcohol from life. Do more sports, ideal for overweight people yoga, pilates, swimming.
- Preliminary preparation is not complete without medication. Patients are prescribed proton pump inhibitors (Omez, Nolpaza, etc.). They help reduce the risk of gastrointestinal complications during weight loss, the feeling of fullness comes faster, which is important when losing weight.
Ideally, a man or woman should reduce monthly 2-3 kg from the current body weight. On average, preparation for IVF lasts for these couples from 3 months to a year. The term depends on the degree of obesity. Hormone therapy may also be required at the preparation stage.
Treatment of infertility in obesity
Treatment of obesity takes place in several stages. The course of therapy depends on the degree of overweight. First of all, specialists conduct the necessary tests to understand the cause of infertility. It is not always the high weight that becomes the decisive factor. The impossibility of conception occurs due to hormonal disruptions, dysfunction of the thyroid gland, gynecological problems in women and impaired spermatogenesis in men. These pathologies are the consequences of obesity. Therefore, the first point doctors prescribe is a strict diet based on the exclusion of fatty and high-calorie foods. To therapy is added (depending on the individual causes of infertility):
- hormonal drugs;
- medicines that improve the functioning of the digestive tract;
- COCs (combined hormonal oral contraceptives, if gynecological pathologies are observed);
- Drugs that support the cardiovascular system.
Gynecologists talk about the importance of losing weight. Patients with 1 degree of obesity manage to get pregnant naturally in 80% of cases when they lose body weight and bring it to normal levels. Urologists note that men have high sperm counts after losing weight and undergoing special treatment.
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