Weight loss for fertility treatment
Overweight and obese women are at a high risk for reproductive health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), if the body mass index (BMI) equals to or is greater than 25 kg/m2, it is considered overweight, whereas if the BMI equals to or is greater than 30 kg/m2, it is considered obesity.
These women have an increased risk of
- subfecundity and infertility
- miscarriage rates
- pregnancy complications
- poor reproductive outcomes in natural as well as assisted conception (ovulation induction, in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI), and ovum donation cycles)
Overweight and obese patients should be informed about the importance of pre-pregnancy weight reduction and should be encouraged to lose weight before the treatment to reduce the poor obstetrical outcomes.
Although weight loss is the gold standard of treatment in women with a high BMI, ART treatment should not be delayed too much because of increasing age. Many fertility centers have a protocol to initiate ART treatment in conjunction with a weight loss program.
Rapid weight loss and excessive exercise have a negative effect on fertility therefore, a weight loss program under the supervision of the specialist is recommended.