Does Obesity cause Infertility?

In fact, obesity is the main cause of fertility struggles in six percent of women who have never been pregnant before, says the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Obesity affects infertility by changing the way a woman's body stores sex hormones. A small weight loss can improve fertility and pregnancy health. Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly improves your chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy baby.

Reducing weight and insulin levels can help some women resume normal ovulation and improved fertility. Studies have shown that losing just 5% of one's body weight can help restore normal ovulation and menstruation, and in turn, increase your ability to conceive. If you are obese (usually defined as having a BMI of 30 or above) and pregnant, do not try to lose weight during your pregnancy. It will not reduce the chance of complications and may not be safe. The best way to protect you and your baby's health is to go to all your antenatal appointments.

Extra weight can make it hard for you to get pregnant. For example, polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is one of the most common reasons for infertility in women and can also cause obesity. Overweight and obesity affect fertility by: Preventing ovulation. The ideal BMI for getting pregnant is between 18.5 and 24.9. This is known as the healthy range. If you have a high BMI, bringing it closer to the healthy range before trying for a baby will help you get pregnant as well as improving the health of your future pregnancy and child.