Conceiving a child isn’t always straightforward and there can be a number of factors that make it an outright challenge – including your body mass index (BMI).
BMI is an indicator of your body fat, based on your weight and height, and research has shown it can be pivotal to conception and fertility. If you’re struggling to conceive, it could be that your BMI is playing a core role in causing the issue – and adjusting it, so that it’s within a healthy range could make the crucial, positive difference.
How does BMI impact female fertility?
Whether you’re underweight or overweight, straying too far out of the recommended range means you could be more likely to experience problems when it comes to conception.
Women with a high BMI increase their chance of hormonal imbalances, such as raised levels of oestrogen, which could interfere with ovulation or the menstrual cycle. This could lead to irregular periods and make it trickier to pinpoint your fertile window, which will decrease your chances of a successful conception.[1]
Carrying too much body fat can cause you to develop insulin resistance, which can lead to conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Sufferers of this common hormonal disorder often have raised levels of androgens (male hormones) and frequently have irregular periods, ovarian cysts, as well as difficulty conceiving.
On the other hand, women who have an underweight BMI, whether from extreme dieting or other health issues, might also experience hormonal disruption. Not having enough body fat may cause your oestrogen levels to drop, which can lead to irregular periods or even, total cessation of menstruation. Technically referred to as hypothalamic amenorrhea, an absence of menstruation will have a significant impact on your fertility, as it often prevents ovulation entirely.
How does BMI impact male fertility?
While the focus is commonly placed on BMI and female fertility, the reasons men struggle to conceive can also be due to having a BMI that’s not ideal.
Research has demonstrated that BMI impacts male fertility by affecting hormonal balance, as well as the quality of sperm. Men who are obese or carrying excess body fat often have lower testosterone – and a higher rate of conversion of testosterone into oestrogen. This can cause a drastic decline in both sperm production, as well as quality.
On top of this, males who have a higher BMI often carry an increased DNA damage in sperm, which can potentially lower fertility as well as raise the chance of a miscarriage.
Men who have a BMI that’s too low can also experience fertility issues, including reduced sperm production, caused by an imbalance of hormones. This is because a lower BMI can impact on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis, causing disrupted production and the deregulation of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone.
Keep a healthy BMI to maximise your conception chances
Whether you’re male or female, ensuring you maintain a healthy BMI will be crucial if you’re trying to conceive. Studies have shown that keeping a BMI that’s in the healthy range positively impacts fertility potential and there are several key reasons as to why this is the case.
- To ensure balanced hormone levels – Having a BMI within the healthy range will up your chances of successful conception, as this maximises the balance of hormones. This factor has been proven to boost ovulation, as well as the production of viable sperm.
- To regulate menstruation – Women who maintain a healthy weight typically experience more regular menstrual cycles, allowing them to predict their fertile window and time intercourse with greater ease.
- To boost the success of fertility treatments – Fertility treatments aren’t guaranteed to succeed but scientific research has discovered that you can definitely boost your chances of conception from procedures like in vitro fertilization (IVF), by maintaining a healthy BMI.
- To reduce the risk of pregnancy complications – Keeping a healthy weight is associated with lower risks of pregnancy-related complications, including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and premature birth.
Conclusion
If you’re currently attempting to conceive but have concerns that your BMI may be impacting your chances, consult with a reproductive healthcare expert, as a professional opinion should always be your first port of call. An experienced clinician will fully evaluate your situation and will give you specific advice as to the lifestyle, diet and exercise adjustments you should make in order to maximise your chance of conception.
There are many factors that play a role in fertility but there’s no doubt that BMI plays a critical role – and achieving a healthy BMI should be a priority for anyone trying to conceive.
Maintaining a healthy weight is equally important for both women and men, as this will affect many factors, from ovulation to the production of sperm, general reproductive health and hormone balance. By staying mindful of your BMI and making sage lifestyle choices that ensure you keep to a healthy weight, you’ll significantly boost the likelihood of conception, as well as your chance of a successful pregnancy.
[1] https://www.ivi.uk/blog/why-your-bmi-matters-when-trying-to-get-pregnant/
