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Obesity and Fertility
In recent years, the connection between lifestyle, weight, nutrition
and fertility is gaining more public exposure. According to research,
it is known that being overweight can affect your ability to become
pregnant and also can cause complications during pregnancy.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can develop as a result of obesity
and is a major cause of infertility amongst women. A study by
Jan Willem van der Steeg, MD, of Amsterdam’s Academic Medical
Centre, shows that women who were severely obese were 43% less
likely to achieve pregnancy than normal weight women or women
who were considered overweight but not obese during this year
long study.
How can you tell if your fertility is affected by your
weight?
If you have regular menstrual cycles, then you are probably ovulating
(releasing an egg.) If you have sporadic or irregular periods,
then your ovulation is also most likely to be irregular. The most
common cause of irregular periods is polycystic ovary syndrome.
Sufferers of PCOS have multiple cysts in their ovaries which then
produce large amounts of androgen and oestrogenic hormones. This
prevents ovulation, causing infertility.
Fertility Drugs
It is known from studies performed that women who are overweight
or obese are less likely to respond to fertility drugs. This occurs
because the excessive weight obstructs the proper absorption of
the fertility drugs used during these treatments. Some IVF clinics
refuse to treat obese patients until they reduce their Body Mass
Index.
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