Can Obesity Be A Reason For Infertility?

Posted On 25/07/19

‘Poor diet and sedentary behavior have led to an increase in obesity, lifestyle-related diseases and a huge rise in chronic medical conditions.’

When it comes to obesity, you know all the health risks you are going to face if you put on excess weight. Starting with heart diseases, diabetes to arthritis, obesity is linked to a lot of other lifestyle diseases. But did you know, excess weight can actually hamper fertility? Yes, you heard it right. Obesity or excessive weight gain can affect fertility not only in women but also in men. According to statistics almost eight out of ten obese women face difficulty to get pregnant, whereas almost seven out of ten obese men go through infertility issues.

How is obesity affecting fertility in females?

Individuals with an unhealthy weight (that is BMI more than 30) often goes through hormonal imbalances and anovulation. One of the major reasons behind infertility in females is the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Obesity is closely related to PCOS. An obese woman is more prone to have PCOS since excessive weight gain leads to high insulin level which further leads to increased androgen levels in the body. As a result, women with obesity often go through irregular periods and symptoms like body hair growth, acne, etc.

Even if some obese women manage to get pregnant, the chances of miscarriages, gestational diabetes, and other pregnancy-related complexities are quite high. In many cases, women are unable to get pregnant for the second time after giving birth to their first child. This happens due to excessive weight gain after the first pregnancy.

Obesity leading to infertility in men

Excessive fat in men not only reduces sperm count but also reduces sperm motility. Plus there have been cases, where men are facing erectile dysfunction due to excessive weight gain.

With excess weight gain, hormonal fluctuations occur in the body. And these hormonal changes affect both men and women respectively.

As treatment plan for obesity, we recommend our patients to reduce weight through proper diet and daily excessive. In certain cases, we also prescribe medications to deal with excessive weight gain. Well, if neither of them works, we suggest going for a Bariatric Surgery. The Bariatric and Laparoscopic surgery department at the Max hospital ranks as the number one in India. Dr. Nikhil Agnihotri, the head of the department, offers some of the most effective weight loss treatments ever.

For a consultation, book an appointment at 91 9810467330, +91 9599754314.