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Infertility can be an extremely difficult experience. If you’ve been diagnosed with obesity, you might wonder, can obesity lead to infertility?
There isn’t a simple answer. Research shows that body weight can impact your chances of getting pregnant, but the good news is that there are steps you can take to improve your fertility and increase your chances of having a healthy pregnancy.
In medical contexts, infertility is often defined as the inability to achieve pregnancy — that is, to get pregnant or cause a partner to become pregnant — after regularly having sex without using any form of birth control for at least one year. Infertility can affect people of any sex or gender, and globally, about 48 million couples have trouble getting pregnant.
For people of any biological sex, infertility can be caused by:
According to Cleveland Clinic, for men, infertility is most frequently caused by low sperm count and poor sperm motility (movement). Other potential causes include:
In the United States, roughly 20 percent of women have a hard time getting pregnant for the first time, according to Cleveland Clinic. This is most frequently caused by problems with ovulation or with the release of an egg for fertilization.
Other factors include health conditions such as:
Obesity is usually defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher (note that BMI is a metric based on height and weight that can be useful in medical contexts, but a high or low BMI does not necessarily mean a person is healthy or unhealthy). Although obesity can be a risk factor for infertility in people of any gender, having obesity does not necessarily mean you’ll become infertile.
Here are some ways obesity can potentially affect your ability to get pregnant.
One of the biggest ways obesity affects fertility is by making it harder for your body to ovulate, or release an egg. This condition is called anovulation. If your body doesn’t ovulate regularly, it’s much harder to become pregnant.
Obesity can also cause hormone imbalances. According to the journal Gynecology and Obstetrics, in female infertility, this includes:
These changes can confuse the brain and ovaries, making it harder for the body to release eggs and produce progesterone, which is needed for pregnancy.
According to Gynecology and Obstetrics, in male infertility, fat tissue can turn hormones, such as testosterone, into estrogen. This can also lower testosterone levels, leading to lower sperm production or no sperm production at all. This makes it harder for sperm cells to fertilize an egg.
Fat tissue releases special chemicals called adipokines. Some of these help the body, but others can cause health issues. According to Gynecology and Obstetrics, in women with obesity, the balance of these chemicals is off.
For example, too much of a chemical called chemerin can block a hormone called follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which helps eggs grow. In addition, too little adiponectin can make it harder for an embryo to attach to the uterus and also cause a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
Obesity can also change the fluid around eggs in the ovaries. This fluid may have too much fat, which can hurt the egg and make it harder for the embryo to grow properly. Eggs may also have lower levels of healthy fats, like omega-3s, which are important for making strong, healthy embryos.
Obesity can lead to an increased risk of certain health problems that also affect fertility.
According to Frontiers in Endocrinology, males with obesity have higher rates of erectile dysfunction, which means they have trouble getting or keeping an erection. ED can make it more difficult to have sex regularly, which lowers the chance of pregnancy.
PCOS is a common condition and one of the most frequent causes of female infertility, according to Cleveland Clinic. It causes irregular periods, high levels of androgens, and small cysts on the ovaries. PCOS and obesity are associated with one another, and one study found that between 38 percent and 88 percent of women with PCOS have obesity or a BMI score in the overweight range.
Many people with obesity have healthy pregnancy outcomes and give birth to healthy babies. That said, it may take longer for them to conceive, and they may experience more health risks and pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes or high blood pressure.
It’s important to work closely with your doctor to manage any risks during pregnancy. Your healthcare provider may suggest extra checkups, special tests to monitor the baby, and lifestyle modifications like healthy diets and exercise plans. Taking care of your health before and during pregnancy can help you and your baby stay safe.
If you’re struggling with infertility and have obesity, you’re not alone, and there’s help available. Following are some steps you can take.
A fertility specialist can run tests to find out what’s causing infertility. They can also help you understand how your weight might be affecting your fertility.
Many factors can affect your weight and reproductive health, including genetics, hormones, stress, and medical conditions like thyroid disorders. Some of these factors are beyond your control, while others can be managed with support.
A healthcare provider can help you understand how your overall health — including factors like hormone levels, insulin sensitivity, and body weight — might be influencing your fertility. They may suggest steps to support your reproductive and metabolic health, such as:
Sometimes, lifestyle changes aren’t enough. You may need fertility treatments, such as medication to help with ovulation, intrauterine insemination (IUI), or in vitro fertilization (IVF).
In some cases, weight-loss surgery, like gastric bypass, has shown promise in increasing fertility in some people, and it may be an option if other methods haven’t worked.
While obesity can lead to infertility, it doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant. Obesity can affect hormones, ovulation, and sperm health, but there are many ways to improve your chances of having a baby.
Remember, you’re not alone. Many people face these challenges, and there’s help and support available. Talk to your doctor about steps you can take toward a healthier lifestyle.
MyObesityTeam is the social network for people with obesity and their loved ones. On MyObesityTeam, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with obesity.
What are some of your key takeaways about infertility? Have you or someone you know faced fertility challenges? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.
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