Usually, couples see a respective doctor at a fertility or IVF clinic in Bangalore or in their locality when their effort to become parents does not bear fruit. At the clinic or hospital, the doctor suggests couples on different things linked to their reproductive health along with recommending a few medicines and tests. Weight management is one of those points.
Have you ever thought about why the doctor asks couples to manage their weight? Not! Okay, not an issue. Keep in mind overweight or obese has a direct association with your reproductive system and fertility. Here, have a look at obesity and its effects on fertility:
What is obesity and how does a person become overweight or has obesity?
Obesity is a health condition in which your body weight gets increases. Sometimes your body weight is so high that you start having issues walking or making movement within your home.
Usually, you have excess body weight due to your bad eating habits and highly comfortable life. You eat what you want without knowing whether it is healthy or unhealthy for you. Consuming foods rich in trans and saturated fats, soft drinks, junk food, and a lot of packaged food items makes you gain weight. Further, a lack of physical activities in your life facilitates the weight gain process. Some of you have obesity or weight gain issues due to genetic problems or a family history of obesity.
Effects of obesity on fertility
Obesity has associated with several health issues. Being overweight means you have a higher risk of heart diseases, joint problems, diabetes, and back pain. Excess body weight makes females have delayed pregnancy. It affects egg and sperm quality and lowers your chances of having a conception. See how it affects your fertility through different changes in your body:
- Hormones
Obesity or being overweight indicates that your BMI (body mass index) is higher than 25. If not managed or controlled, it can go beyond 30. And BMI over 25 triggers hormonal changes in your body. The hormonal change lowers your conception chance. It means you will have to struggle a lot to become the parents of a baby.
- Insulin resistance
Being overweight can cause you to have insulin resistance caused by hormonal imbalances. Apart from making you have diabetes, it can affect your and your spouse’s fertility. Due to obesity, females can experience irregularities in their menstrual cycle and ovulation issues such as anovulation. When a female has ovulation, her ovaries stop proper egg production and release which is crucial to conceive.
- Natural and assisted pregnancies
Obesity or being overweight can make your pregnancy plan very challenging for you. Whether you are trying to conceive naturally or through medical interference, obesity can increase your risk of having a miscarriage. Experts blame Hormonal imbalances or poor egg quality for this issue.
- Lower fertility in males
Obesity affects a female’s fertility. It also leaves bad impacts on a male’s fertility. Due to obesity, men have a reduction in the level of testosterone hormone that causes infertility in men. Further, obesity can lead men to have penile erection issues that can make them unable to make love to their partners.
- What you should do
Whether you are a male or female, you should maintain a healthy weight to sustain your fertility and ease your parenthood journey. Losing weight can help you regularise your hormone levels and get rid of odds that can lead you to have infertility or fertility problems and other health issues. And for managing your weight, you should exercise daily, monitor your BMI, take healthy foods, and avoid what is unhealthy for your overall health and fertility.