Many of you know that being overweight increases the risk of health problems, such as blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and diabetes. But many are unaware that this can also reduce the ability to conceive and have a healthy child. Being underweight can also have an adverse effect.
If you are trying to get pregnant, or plan to start trying, the closer you are to a healthy body weight, the greater your chance of getting pregnant and delivering a healthy baby.
Ideal Body Weight depends upon your body mass index (BMI) which is based on your height and weight. The healthy BMI range is between 18.5 and 24.9. Adults with a BMI under 18.5 are considered underweight. Those with a BMI between 25 and 29 are considered overweight, and a BMI over 30 indicates obesity. If you are unsure of your BMI, you might want to try a BMI calculator like this one {link} offered by the CDC.
Weight’s Impact on Fertility can affect a couple’s ability to conceive by causing:
• Hormone imbalances in women
• Ovulation problems and complications
• Menstrual disorders
• Sperm count and motility
Weight problems can also lead to difficulties with fertility treatments (also known as reproductive endocrinology) such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF), ovulation induction and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
If you would like to learn more about ways to keep your body weight at an ideal level for conception, consider reading some of this article {link} about a couple’s journey to overcoming weight issues, along their path to becoming a family.
