Preconception Strategies No. 4 - Control Your Weight

Approximately 12 percent of all infertility cases can be traced to weight problems. This is split almost evenly between those you weigh too much and those who weigh too little. Seriously obese women are infertile at almost double the rate of normal weight women. Seriously obese men are 50% more likely to be infertile.

In overweight women, one important contributing factor to infertility is the estrogen that is made in fat cells. The more fat cells results in more estrogen. Increased estrogen prevents ovulation (like in birth control pills). These estrogen producing fat cells also produce inflammatory substances and increase insulin levels, both contributing to infertility.

Underweight women, without adequate amounts of body fat, can't produce enough estrogen. Insufficient nourishment lowers FSH and LH levels, which creates too little estrogen, resulting in irregular cycles, poorly developed follicles, and a poor or nonexistent ovulation.

You can maximize your fertility by finding and maintaining a healthy weight.