How Weight Affects Fertility And Your Chances Of Successful IVF Treatment

How Weight Affects Fertility And Your Chances Of Successful IVF Treatment

Being overweight or obese can be a sensitive issue because of the implications on body image. While we should celebrate and be happy with ourselves, regardless of our weight, there are a few medical facts that cannot be overlooked. Excess weight increases the risk of a wide range of health conditions, not just in terms of general health, but also in the context of reproductive health.

How Weight Interferes With Female Fertility

Research shows a strong association between obesity and infertility, with higher presence of obese women in the infertile population (1). In fact, some research suggests that women with a BMI greater than 27 have three times the risk of infertility due to anovulation or the absence of ovulation (2). In other words, there is no release of an egg for fertilization. Obesity not only causes anovulation, but it also increases the risk of menstrual irregularities, poor conception rates, and lower success with fertility treatments. Pregnancy outcomes are lower, with higher rates of miscarriage and complications.

There is a delicate hormonal balance which regulates the female menstrual cycle. This balance is disrupted by obesity or excess weight, impairing fertility (3).

The distribution of body fat also plays a role in the extent of its impact on infertility, with abdominal fat posing a higher risk to female fertility.

What Is IVF And How It Helps?

IVF or in vitro fertilization is a fertility treatment that makes it possible for women to conceive despite fertility problems. Of course, that falls within certain limits. IVF occurs outside the body, with an ovum or egg which is extracted from a woman’s body and fertilized externally then implanted back into the uterus. The goal here is then for successful implantation and growth. There are various techniques and IVF treatments, but this is a simplified explanation to the concept. Couples can turn to IVF for a variety of reasons aside from infertility, such as a history of genetic abnormalities or the need for donor eggs or sperm.

How Weight Affects IVF Treatment?

With excess body weight, the chances of a successful pregnancy are lower, while the risk of complications is higher. Egg retrieval is regarded as difficult in women with a high BMI and treatments have a high failure rate. A study that appeared in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics confirmed this theory, showing that as a woman’s BMI increases above the healthy range, the fewer is the number of healthy eggs that could be retrieved (4). This also means that the number of viable embryos would be fewer at the end. The chances of a live birth using IVF treatment are also considerably lower for women with excess body weight; overweight women have a 9% lower chance of live birth, while obese women have a 20% lower chance (5).

How You Can Beat The Odds?

Reduction of body weight is the most significant step that you can take to improve your chances of conceiving naturally or with fertility treatments. Studies show that just 5-10% can significantly improve fertility and the likelihood of conceiving (6). Experts recommend treatment of obesity as a precursor to any fertility treatment or IVF as this not only increases the likelihood of successful treatment, but it can also improve the chances of natural conception. Nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle modifications are the most important strategies for weight reduction. In addition to all this, you should also speak to your doctor to learn about tests like Anti-Müllerian Hormone Test or AMH. This test makes it possible to measure a woman’s ovarian reserve and decide on the need for any interventions. Consulting a professional will help you ensure the best possible results.

How Weight Affects Fertility And Your Chances Of Successful IVF Treatment