Weight and Fertility

Argh, the "W" word. I remember being so petrified every time I used to walk into my EX-Gynae's rooms. My blood pressure would go through the roof. He always complained about my weight. It was the easiest excuse for him as to why we weren't falling pregnant. Blame it on the weight. I remember the one time I was so proud that I had lost 4kg, when I told him he said to me: "By the rate you are losing weight, you will probably be pregnant in 2 years". Idiot.......

So needless to say I was always so demotivated and p!ssed off about my weight and TTC. I wouldn't even open articles that spoke about weight affecting TTC. Until I met my new Gynae. When I told him about my weight issues. He looked at me as if I was nuts, and said "what weight issues? You look fine to me." I nearly kissed the man.

Now I know I wasn't seriously over weight, I could do with loosing a few kgs. (Like any woman always wants too.) But what was amazing was the difference in attitude between the two docs. For 3 years, the EXdoc would literally shout out at me and I would not do anything about the extra weight. New doc, lovely man = me getting more healthier and actually wanting to exercise.

I don't want to preach about weight affecting your fertility. But if you glance through the passages below:

Extract from www.fertilityjourney.com

For women, very low weight can decrease GnRH production, which can result in irregular ovulation or a complete stop to ovulation. Too little GnRH can affect the development of the uterine lining and its receptivity to the implanting embryo. For men, low weight could lead to decreased sperm count or function.

Being overweight can also lead to an abnormal hormonal signal, impacting ovulation and possibly sperm production. It can cause an overproduction of insulin, which may result in irregular ovulation. There is also a link between obesity, excess insulin production and the infertility condition known as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

A healthy return to normal body weight will often reverse hormonal irregularities, thereby restoring fertility. Not only that, but normal body weight is also the healthy way to prepare for pregnancy. Whether you have to shed or gain some pounds, changes in weight should be made before getting pregnant, since drastic changes can be detrimental to your developing baby. If the cause of obesity is related to PCOS, the use of insulin sensitizing drugs may be needed in addition to dietary changes. Please consult with your healthcare provider prior to taking any medications, prescribed or over the counter.

It really couldn't do you any harm to get active and create the best environment (body) to fall pregnant. Exercising makes you feel better, is a great stress reliever and clears the mind. (Well at least for me it does.) And I'm sure you could do with less stress while TTC right?

Don't kill yourself with hectic routines if you aren't used to it. Start off slow, do something you enjoy. Maybe something both you and your partner can do together.

Ps. I'm sure some creative BD sessions could be considered as exercise too *wink wink*