What influence does weight have on fertility?
There is scientific evidence that weight can significantly affect the time it takes for a healthy woman to become pregnant. Being overweight, obese or being excessively thin can negatively influence both the menstrual cycle, the normal development of the egg or the ability to get pregnant.
In men, it has been seen in some studies that seminal quality is altered in the presence of obesity, since sperm concentration and morphology is worse.
Therefore, the best thing to ensure a pregnancy with a high success rate, it is advisable to be within normal weight limits.
How do I know if my weight is within the right range for conceiving? What risks do I take?
Rather than focus on weight, we should look at the famous BMI (body mass index). Currently there are many online BMI calculators to calculate this value. According to the WHO recommendations, it is considered that:
A BMI <18.5 indicates excessive thinness. Patients in this range are at risk of ovarian dysfunction and an increased risk of preterm pregnancy.
A BMI between 18.5 - 25 is considered normal weight. Patients in this range have the ideal conditions to conceive safely.
A BMI between 25 - 30 indicates that there is overweight
and a BMI> 30 indicates obesity. Patients in this range have higher cycle cancellation rates, worse embryo implantation rates (due to less endometrial receptivity) and increased abortion rates. Also, it would be more likely to find gestational complications such as gestational diabetes.
What can we do if we are not at our proper weight to conceive?
As we have seen, having the right weight when looking to be parents is essential to achieve a healthy baby. Fortunately, in most cases, the negative effects that we have discussed are reversible if treated in time.
The main indications are easy to carry out: an improvement in diet and exercise together with a follow-up by your specialist will be the key before starting to look for a pregnancy.