The best way to tell if I’m at a healthy weight for pregnancy is to measure my weight
Calculating your body mass index (BMI) is a simple approach to find out if you’re underweight or overweight (BMI). There are several tables to choose from on the web (search term: BMI table). To find out your BMI, enter your height and weight into our online calculator tool.
What is a healthy BMI range?
BMI between 19 and 24 is considered normal, whereas BMI under 19 is considered obese. Overweight is defined as a BMI of 25 to 29; a BMI of 30 or above is considered obese.
Do women’s weight gain or loss have an impact on their ability to conceive?
Getting pregnant isn’t an issue for many women, regardless of their weight. However, some women will have difficulty conceiving, most often owing to ovulation issues (failure to release eggs from the ovaries).
Obesity can induce irregular menstrual periods and even interrupt ovulation if a person’s BMI is 18.5 or less. An eating problem may be indicated by a body mass index (BMI) of 17.5 or below. Women who have a BMI that is below the normal range should work with their doctor to figure out what’s causing their condition and how to fix it.
Menstrual irregularities and ovulation problems can both be exacerbated by an obese BMI. Because pregnancy rates are lower in overweight women with regular ovulation cycles, ovulation is not the sole problem. Before starting a family, it is a good idea to see a doctor to rule out any conditions that may affect pregnancy, such thyroid illness, insulin resistance, and diabetes.
When it comes to becoming pregnant and having a healthy kid, is obesity an issue?
Evidence suggests that being overweight or obese reduces the likelihood of IVF being successful (IVF). Obese women have been found to have lower pregnancy rates and a greater incidence of miscarriage. Obese women are more likely to acquire gestational diabetes and excessive blood pressure during pregnancy (pre-eclampsia). Cesarean sections are more common among obese women. Obese moms are more likely to give birth to children who are more likely to have birth abnormalities and be born with a large birth weight.
Is obesity a factor in men’s infertility?
Changes in testosterone levels and other reproductive hormones may be linked to obesity in men. Men who are overweight or obese are more likely to have poor sperm counts and low sperm motility (movement) than men who are in the normal weight range.
Does it make sense for me to decrease my BMI before trying to become pregnant?
To begin, make an appointment with a medical professional. Your age and any other infertility issues will be taken into account before he or she makes a suggestion as to whether you should first try to reduce weight. Even if you’re over 40 and/or have a BMI of 40 or higher, making dietary and lifestyle changes (such as increasing your physical activity) with the help of a group support programme may be a successful first step toward weight loss. Bariatric surgery is the most effective way for women with a BMI over 40 to lose weight.
When it comes to my health, would I need to do anything differently since I have PCOS and am overweight?
PCOS affects around 8%–10% of all teenage girls. Although not all women with PCOS are fat or overweight, many women with PCOS show indications of insulin resistance and/or weight gain. It is possible to lose weight, have regular menstrual cycles, and ovulate by cutting calories and exercising.
Women with PCOS, on the other hand, may require extra treatment in order to become pregnant, such as insulin resistance drugs. They should consult a reproductive endocrinology and infertility expert for help. The ASRM fact sheet on polycystic ovarian syndrome has further information about PCOS.
UNDERWEIGHT DURING FERTILITY
It is possible that women who are underweight (BMI less than 18.5) have a lower chance of getting pregnant because of hormonal abnormalities. Women who are obese are more likely to delay becoming pregnant for more than a year than women who are healthy weight.
Problems associated with being underweight include the following:
• The causes of anemia might range from malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, and anemia itself.
• Osteoporosis is caused by a deficiency in vitamin D and calcium.
• Dysfunction of the immune system.
• The chance of complications after surgery is increased.
• Reproductive issues might arise as a result of irregular menstrual cycles.
• Issues relating to development and growth.
OVERWEIGHT DURING FERTILITY
Obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy have been linked to a wide range of pregnancy issues, including miscarriage, preterm labour, and low birth weight.
The odds of a healthy delivery and adulthood for the child are increased if the mother’s weight is closer to that of a healthy weight before she becomes pregnant.
People also search
How much weight do I need to lose to increase fertility?
The odds of an obese woman becoming pregnant rise by 5 to 7 percent, or 10 to 20 pounds, if she loses weight.
How much does being overweight affect fertility?
Women who are overweight or obese have a lower likelihood of having a live birth with IVF than women who are in the healthy weight range.
How much should I weigh to get pregnant?
Effect of a high BMI on fertility
Your fertility may be affected if you have a BMI that is too high. Between 18.5 and 24.9 is the ideal BMI for conceiving. The healthy range falls within this range.
Can I get pregnant if I am obese?
Obesity has little to no effect on a woman’s capacity to conceive. In contrast, being obese (rather than overweight) might reduce your chances of becoming pregnant. Since your hormones can be affected and your ovaries prevented from producing an egg when you are overweight, this may be the case (ovulation)
