Obesity is a global issue that has been growing at an alarming rate every year. Research conducted by endocrinology organizations shows that practically half the population is overweight, reaching 48.5% of the population.
Most cases are among men, but the number of women of reproductive age is still very high, reaching 39.9% of women between the ages of 25 and 35. Is this perhaps why more and more women are seeking help because they cannot conceive naturally? After all, can obesity interfere with ovulation and affect a woman’s ability to get pregnant?
And the answer is yes! Obesity can interfere with a woman’s fertility and make it more difficult to get pregnant naturally or easily. Female hormones are stored and metabolized through adipose tissue found in body fat.
This excess fat disrupts the proper functioning of the pituitary gland located in the brain, which sends all the body’s commands and completely deregulates the cycle as well as ovulation. Due to the excess fat, the body ends up producing more estrogen than normal, and the organism acts as if it is receiving birth control, limiting the chances of pregnancy.
That’s why many women who are at risk for cardiovascular diseases, are overweight, or obese experience amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) and need medical treatment and monitoring not only to regulate their cycle but also to control their weight. Obesity doesn’t just harm fertility, nor is it just a cosmetic issue. It increases the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attacks, as well as the likelihood of developing breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers.
Obesity also increases the risk of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, which is caused by hormonal dysfunction. With polycystic ovaries, the production of androgens, which are male hormones, increases and completely upsets your hormonal cycle. In turn, the testosterone produced also interferes with the cycle, which not only prevents ovulation but also increases the chances of cysts appearing.
Another recurring problem for those struggling with obesity is the lack of ovulation or not noticing the fertile window when it occurs. Unfortunately, cervical mucus may not appear in those with low estrogen levels, so to be absolutely sure that you are not ovulating, it is recommended to use ovulation tests. These will help check for the development of the LH hormone, which releases the follicles during ovulation. The timing for using ovulation tests in these specific cases should be calculated based on the largest and smallest menstrual cycles the woman has had, and on average, start taking the tests. It is recommended to keep using ovulation tests and only stop after getting a positive result that becomes clearer, remembering that ovulation tests should have two dark lines or the test line darker than the control line.
I Suffer from Obesity and Want to Get Pregnant – What Should I Do?
If you are overweight or suffer from obesity and are trying to conceive without success, the best approach is to investigate your fertility, assess your health conditions, and look for the best options to lose weight in a healthy way. It’s worth noting that weight loss is not just linked to physical appearance or aesthetics—it goes far beyond that to impact your health.
In fact, if you manage to get pregnant while already overweight, monitoring monthly weight gain should be even more rigorous to avoid gestational diabetes, high blood pressure if you don’t already have it, as well as pre-eclampsia and the risk of hemorrhage during and after childbirth. Therefore, taking care of yourself before pregnancy occurs will help prevent a lot of worries and risks, besides providing a healthy and smooth pregnancy and giving birth to a healthy baby.
There are millions of diets of all types and a long list of activities and exercises to support weight loss. However, we do not recommend doing these without the supervision of doctors and specialists. Balanced diets or even simply changing your eating habits along with regular exercise can result in quick results on the scale, bringing you closer to the dream of becoming a mother.
When seeing a nutritionist, you will undergo tests, and your BMI will be calculated to indicate how much weight you need to lose. Dietary care along with activities such as walking, swimming, cycling, and aerobic exercises will, in just a few months, produce the expected results. Isn’t such a special dream worth the effort? Being healthy to live out this dream and give life to your dream is always worthwhile!
