​Can Losing (or Gaining) Weight Aid Fertility?

​Have you ever wondered how your weight might be affecting your fertility? For many couples, trying to conceive can be a long and difficult journey. It’s no surprise that couples go to great lengths to increase their chances of conception. One potential factor that may affect fertility is weight. That’s right, whether you’re looking to lose or gain weight, it could potentially have an impact on your ability to conceive. Let’s look into how weight may affect fertility. 

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How Weight Loss May Affect Fertility 
Weight loss can be a great way to improve overall health and well-being, but for some women it can have a negative effect on their fertility. Women who are underweight or have an eating disorder may find that they are not able to conceive as easily as those with a healthy body weight. This is because low body fat levels disrupt the production of hormones needed for ovulation and fertility. Low body fat levels also reduce estrogen production which can lead to amenorrhea (absence of menstrual cycle). Additionally, rapid weight loss has been linked with poor quality eggs and embryos, leading to poorer pregnancy outcomes. 
 
How Weight Gain May Affect Fertility 
Weight gain can also have an effect on fertility — particularly in overweight women — since higher body fat levels disrupt hormone production in the same way as lower levels do. Research has found that overweight women often experience difficulty conceiving due to irregular ovulation cycles and PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). Furthermore, obesity is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage and other complications during pregnancy such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Therefore, if you are looking to increase your chances of conception it is important that you maintain a healthy body weight by eating balanced meals and exercising regularly. 
 
In conclusion, whether you are looking to decrease or increase your body fat levels for improved fertility outcomes, it is important that you do this safely by following a balanced diet and engaging in regular physical activity under the guidance of a health professional such as a doctor or registered dietitian/nutritionist. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle you will not only improve your chances of conception but also ensure that any pregnancy you may experience will be safe for both you and your baby!

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