Approximately 1 in 8 couples will face infertility. Often, fertility testing reveals issues such as irregular or absent ovulation, physical abnormalities, age and abnormal sperm counts, all of which can impact your ability to conceive. While these factors are not within your control, Dr. Mark Rispler wants patients to know that certain lifestyle choices can affect the chances of getting pregnant. For example, weight and diet can help or hurt your odds of conceiving.
Why Weight Matters for Fertility
If you are under or overweight, you may have a difficult time getting pregnant. When you are too thin, you may not have regular periods, which can disrupt the normal ovulation process. On the flip side, carrying extra weight may indicate an underlying problem such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a medical condition that can affect hormone levels, periods, and ovulation.
Maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI), somewhere between 18 and 25, will help ensure that your weight doesn’t stop you from having a baby. A balanced diet and regular exercise will go a long way toward keeping your weight in the ideal range.
Understanding the connection between weight and fertility enables our patients to maximize their efforts to conceive. If you have tried to get pregnant without success, contact our office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Mark Rispler.