Does Obesity Cause Infertility?
What is the relationship between obesity and fertility?
In women who are overweight or obese, the probability of fertility is much lower than in women of normal weight. After pregnancy, the excess weight that is present can increase the risks during pregnancy. Losing excess weight increases both fertility and the possibility of a healthy pregnancy.
What are the disadvantages caused by obesity?
- Cardiovascular diseases (low HDL, hypertriglyceridemia, increased small dense LDL, fibrinolytic abnormalities, atherothrombosclerosis); varicose veins, coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke,
- Diabetes (type 2 diabetes),
- Uterus, breast, prostate and colon cancers,
- Osteoarthritis (rheumatism),
- Sleep apnea syndrome (respiratory arrest and oxygen deficiency during sleep),
- Difficulties in childbirth,
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (ovarian cysts),
- Gastrointestinal system disorders (reflux esophagitis, hiatal hernia, gallstones, hepatosteatosis (fatty liver) and steatohepatitis)
- It has been conclusively shown to be a very important risk factor for diseases such as depression.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (ovarian cysts),
- Gastrointestinal system disorders (reflux esophagitis, hiatal hernia, gallstones, hepatosteatosis (fatty liver) and steatohepatitis)
- It has been conclusively shown to be a very important risk factor for diseases such as depression.
What are the disadvantages of obesity on fertility?
- Occurrence of menstrual irregularity
- Increased likelihood of infertility
- Increased need for infertility-related surgical intervention
- Increased risk of miscarriage
- Increased risk of high blood pressure
- Risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy
- Increased risk of urinary tract infection during pregnancy
- Increased risk of cesarean delivery
- Increased risk of premature birth and infant death,
- The risk of spinal cord-related developmental disorders (mostly neural tube defects, for example spina bifida) increases in infants,
- There may be an increased risk of the baby being born overweight.
- This can occur in the baby’s blood sugar. This can be related to brain damage and epileptic seizures.
- Increased duration of labor, increased amount of postpartum bleeding,
- Increased risk of postpartum wound infection in the skin stitches, cervical wound infection, inflammation of the uterine lining and urinary tract infection
How does weight loss in expectant mothers affect fertility?
If the expectant mother loses only 5% to 10% of her weight, she can very simply increase her chances of ovulation and pregnancy.
During pregnancy, there is an acceptable decrease in the rate of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. In addition, the expectant mother’s sense of self-confidence also improves.
“Obese women have a higher risk of miscarriage!”
Hormone medications that should be used in IVF treatments are less effective in obese women. For this reason, obese women need to be given higher doses of medication. In obese women, the probability of an embryo implanting is lower than in normal-weight women. Due to the low number of eggs available, the treatment process is extended. In addition, there is also an increase in the risk of pregnancy due to the risk of treatment being interrupted.
On the other hand, the probability of experiencing a miscarriage increases in obese women. For this reason, expectant mothers undergoing IVF treatment should lose their excess weight in order to avoid such negative effects.
Expectant mothers who have lost their excess weight are also protected from risky diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Certain diet programs and exercises are recommended for candidates who will undergo IVF treatment. Even if expectant mothers lose only 5% of their weight, it is enough to increase the success rate of the treatment.
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