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OBESITY MAY DECREASE FERTILITY
Obesity decreases a women’s chance of getting
pregnant.
Researchers recently found that women with a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 or higher
had significantly lower probability of becoming pregnant naturally, compared
with normal weight women who had BMIs of between 21 and 29.
In the case of a woman with a BMI of 35, the probability of spontaneous pregnancy
was 26 percent lower, and in the case of a woman with a BMI of 40, it was 43
percent lower.
One reason for this may be the hormone leptin, which regulates appetite
and energy expenditure and is secreted in fatty tissues. It is
possible that obese women may have disturbed hormone levels, which decrease
the chances of successful fertilization and implantation.
Obesity is already known to disrupt ovulation; this study now suggests it can
lower pregnancy rates compared with women of normal weight.
However, the researchers did not track the timing and frequency of sexual intercourse,
which may have affected the results. Some studies have shown that obesity is
linked with less frequent sex and reduced sexual desire.
If you intend to get pregnant, you could increase your odds by getting
in shape first. In addition to improving your health, this could
help you conceive and will ensure that you have already developed healthy
habits to pass on to your child.
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