IS YOUR WEIGHT AFFECTING YOUR FERTILITY?

BEING OVERWEIGHT AFFECTS YOUR CHANCES OF CONCEIVING AND HAVING A HEALTHY BABY.

If you’re trying to get pregnant being overweight can affect your chances of conceiving and having a healthy baby. Approximately 12% of couples suffering from infertility have difficulties with conception due to their weight.

Obese women are three times more likely to suffer infertility than women with a normal body mass index if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, it may affect how fertile you are.

Obesity can affect fertility by causing hormonal imbalances and problems with ovulation, particularly for obese women having their first baby. Obesity is associated with poly-cystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common cause of infertility.  Early diagnosis, living a healthy lifestyle and treatment can help optimize fertility.

• Women who are overweight or obese have less chance of getting pregnant overall. They are also more likely than women of healthy weight to take more than a year to get pregnant.

• A woman who is obese is more than twice as likely to have a miscarriage as a woman of healthy weight. There is twice the risk that her baby will not survive.

• Infants born to obese women are more likely to be large for their age, need neonatal intensive care or have a congenital abnormality.

5 Tips for Losing Weight for Fertility

• Get help – Find a personal trainer to work with or a nutritionist to help you create your program and get going.

• Start with some exercise like walking, swimming, yoga, playing games etc.

• Keep yourself motivated – give yourself weight loss challenges like drinking 10-15 glass of water per day etc.

• Relax – Take time to relax and unwind at the end of the day. Keeping stress free is important as well for your health.

• Plan ahead – One of the best ways to succeed on a new eating plan is to plan ahead. Pack your lunches, make sure you have plenty of healthy foods in the house, and eat 6 small meals per day.