Did you know that your weight influences your fertility and your chances of conceiving? If you’re overweight or obese, it affects your fertility and increases the risk of PCOS, which makes it difficult to conceive. However, losing enough weight with bariatric surgery improves your chances of conceiving successfully, with fewer risks. Learn how weight affects your fertility and when you should consider bariatric surgery for weight loss to improve fertility. Log on to https://doralhw.org/specialties/bariatric/ know more about weight loss.
How does weight affect your fertility?
Weight affects fertility in several ways in men and women. Having excess weight in men lowers their testosterone levels, reduces sperm production, and quality. In women, obesity affects fertility in different ways, such as:
- Hormonal imbalances:
Obesity leads to hormonal imbalances, which increase the production of estrogen. This imbalance disrupts ovulation and menstrual cycles, leading to irregular or absent periods, making it difficult to track or monitor fertility. Infertility may also be possible due to abnormalities in oocytes (immature eggs) or ovulation arising from lower levels of luteal hormones in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis of eumenorrheic overweight women. Besides irregular periods and weight gain, you may have other signs of hormone imbalance, such as:
- Chronic fatigue
- Low libido
- Hair thinning or loss
- Mood swings or depression
- Acne
- Digestive issues
- Brain fog or memory loss
- Night sweats or hot flashes
- Breast tenderness
- Increased risk of polycystic ovarian syndrome and other conditions:
When excess weight causes hormone imbalances, women are at higher risk of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which occurs when your body develops small, fluid-filled sacs around your ovaries, leading to irregular or extremely painful periods and inconsistent ovulation. The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but it can lead to infertility in women. An excess of adipose tissue, also called body fat, increases the levels of estrogen, and makes it difficult for the ovaries to function properly. Besides PCOS, obesity also increases your risk of insulin resistance, high-risk pregnancies, hypertension, and certain types of cancer, all of which affect fertility and the health of your current or future pregnancy.
Losing weight can help you balance your hormones and achieve fertility.
In case you’re underweight, you may have a difficult time becoming pregnant because your body is not able to make estrogen, which results in irregular menstrual cycles and delays the chances of getting pregnant. You might stop ovulating or stop getting your period, especially when you stop eating enough or exercising excessively, which indicates an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa. Underweight women need to wait more than a year to become pregnant than healthy weight women.
Women with low BMIs should consult with their doctors or other specialists to determine the cause and find measures to improve their condition.
How is bariatric surgery a good option for weight loss to improve fertility?
If you are not able to lose weight after making dietary and lifestyle changes and have any related obesity problems, bariatric surgery is a good option to consider. It is a safe and proven way to resolve symptoms that interfere with pregnancy, such as high blood pressure and PCOS. Surgical procedure not only lessens the weight on reproductive organs; but it also impacts other physiological changes that may affect fertility.
Your surgeon may recommend that you avoid pregnancy for a year after your weight loss surgery. This is because after the surgery your body needs time to restore full reproductive health before you go ahead with pregnancy. A recent research study on women after bariatric surgery reveals major improvement of multiple clinical problems related to PCOS and infertility. All participants in the study show regular menstrual cycles in 3 months after surgery. In overweight women, losing as little as 5% weight may help restore ovulation and fertility.
Research studies have repeatedly found that bariatric surgery is effective in restoring fertility and ovulation in obese women of reproductive age. When compared to other obese women, the ones who get bariatric surgery show a lower risk of obesity complications with better neonatal outcomes. BMI before the surgery does not show a better reproductive success rate, which means the effect of obesity on fertility could be better if women undergo bariatric surgery. A study shows high pregnancy rates among women receiving IVF treatment after bariatric surgery. Another study shows a reduction in miscarriages in women who had previously received a bariatric procedure. Research also shows that it has preventive effects on the transmission of obesity to children of morbidly obese mothers (who receive bariatric surgery before conception). So, it is particularly beneficial to women who are suffering from the symptoms of PCOS. Studies focusing on bariatric surgery for women with PCOS found that patients were able to achieve spontaneous ovulation. Many women experience full restoration of regular menstrual function after the surgery. The majority of women who were infertile before the surgery can conceive with a greater success rate and don’t even need additional fertility treatments.
Weight loss and reproductive health affect each other because if you’re obese, your body produces excess estrogen that leads to irregular periods or no periods, making it difficult to track or monitor fertility. Whereas, if you are underweight, your body is not able to produce estrogen, which delays your chances of becoming pregnant. That’s why it is important to maintain a healthy weight to conceive successfully. If you’re obese and have related symptoms of PCOS, then you should consider bariatric surgery to lose weight and increase your chances of conceiving.
Need help with weight loss? Visit our bariatric specialists in the Brooklyn clinic to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!! If you’re ready to take the next step in managing your weight, we recommend consulting with our Bariatric experts to explore the right treatments or therapies for you. Always listen to your body and adjust your daily routine to prioritize your well-being. If you are looking for a weight loss surgery center near you, contact us on +1 718 367 2555 for a consultation with our bariatric doctors. Want to learn more about types of bariatric surgery like Gastric sleeve surgery, Laparoscopic surgery, Gastric bypass surgery, Sleeve gastrectomy, or LAP band surgery? Doral Health and Wellness has one of the best bariatric doctors and surgeons to treat obesity and weight problems. Book your appointment and walk in at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212.
