Many people are aware of the negative affect that being overweight can have on their health, but they rarely think about the impact that it can have on their fertility. The fact of the matter is, even if a woman’s reproductive organs are generally healthy, being overweight can still inhibit her from becoming pregnant. Additionally, being overweight can affect male fertility as well, which is why it is so important for those couples that are experiencing infertility to evaluate their weight level.
Approximately 12% of couples suffering from infertility have difficulties with conception due to their weight. In some of these cases, the infertility is actually the result of being underweight. However, for the majority of these cases, the fertility problems stem directly from being overweight or obese. Being overweight can contribute to a hormone imbalance, which can affect menstruation, ovulation and even healthy sperm production.
Many women that are overweight often experience irregular menstrual cycles which can have a serious impact on how easily they can conceive. A high amount of body fat can cause an irregular production of estrogen, which throws off the body’s ovulation and menstruation cycles causing infertility to occur. Men that are overweight often experience low sperm levels as well as sperm with poor motility which can further add to fertility troubles. This generally occurs because, when a man is overweight, there is a higher level of fat around the testicles, which causes testicle temperature to rise. This increase in temperature affects sperm quality and can actually kill off sperm, causing a lower chance of healthy sperm to be present for egg fertilization.
An important thing that needs to be kept in mind is that, while it is essential that you maintain a healthy weight level or lose weight for fertility, you must do so in a healthy way to prevent other complications from occurring, which could further exacerbate your fertility problems. Binge dieting and starvation will lead to a number of other health problems that can affect fertility, so if you believe that being overweight is having an effect on your ability to conceive, the last thing that you want to do is starve yourself in an attempt to lose weight and become pregnant.
To lose weight for fertility in a healthy way, you should start small and not throw your body into shock which can cause further health problems. If necessary, seek the assistance of a nutritionist who can help guide you in the correct way to eat so that you are able to obtain the nutrients that your body needs to remain healthy, yet lose weight at the same time. You will also need to establish a healthy exercise routine (this is a must) that will help you to drop unwanted pounds, and help make you healthier at the same time.
You may want to consider following a good fertility diet that is high in nutrient rich foods, that benefits the reproductive system, and that is low in harmful foods that fill your body with toxins and ingredients that can contribute to weight gain. If used correctly, a good fertility diet will help you to not only lose weight, but also aid in making your body more fertile and friendly for conception.
You may also find it helpful to begin your new program with a Fertility Cleanse, which helps to support the body in clearing out toxins and excess hormones from the body.
5 Tips for Losing Weight for Fertility
1. Get help – Find a personal trainer to work with or a nutritionist to help you create your program and get going.
2. Have fun – When it comes to exercise, make sure to find something you enjoy doing.
3. Keep yourself motivated – Find ways to stay on track by reading books, chatting with others in online forums, and setting goals.
4. Relax – Take time to relax and unwind at the end of the day. Keeping stress free is important as well for your health.
5. Plan ahead – One of the best ways to succeed on a new eating plan is to plan ahead. Pack your lunches, make sure you have plenty of healthy foods in the house, and eat 5 small balanced meals per day.
