How can overweight women get pregnant

At the same time, she was unhappy about her weight and pursued bariatric surgery. As part of the prep, she lost 25 pounds. She visited the doctor and learned her surgery needed to be postponed. The reason? She was pregnant. When doctors address fertility, women often receive much of the counseling, but experts know that male infertility accounts for about one-third of the cases of infertility.

While a women's weight plays a role in infertility, obese or overweight fathers also contribute to the issue. The results on weight loss and IVF are mixed. Babies born to very overweight mothers have an increased risk of childhood and adult obesity and other long-term health problems. While the facts about obesity and reproductive outcomes can seem daunting, there is some good news. In women who are obese, even a small weight loss improves fertility and pregnancy health.

Also, some diet and lifestyle changes that limit excessive weight gain during pregnancy can improve health outcomes for both mother and baby. If you are planning to get pregnant, starting a healthy eating and exercise plan now improves your chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy baby.

Studies have found that obesity reduces the rate of pregnancy and live births in women using ART, and increases the rate of miscarriage. But weight loss through diet, lifestyle and other changes significantly improves these outcomes. Ask your doctor about any dietary supplements you may need, such as folic acid and iodine. Begin making these changes before you start trying to conceive, and keep them up throughout your pregnancy and beyond. Being underweight BMI under Compared to women in the healthy weight range, women who are underweight are more likely to take more than a year to get pregnant.

If you are underweight and trying to conceive, a dietitian can work with you to change your diet and help you put on weight. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. Some abortion services in Victoria offer reduced fees to students, healthcare card holders and those experiencing financial difficulty. In Victoria, you can have two types of abortion: surgical and medication. Both types are safe and reliable.

You can have a medication abortion up to nine weeks of pregnancy. You can have a surgical abortion from around six weeks of pregnancy onwards. Mifepristone, also called RU or the 'abortion pill', is used to terminate end a pregnancy up to nine weeks. Abortion is one of the most common and safest types of surgery in Australia. In men, obesity is also associated with lower fertility. This is likely due to a combination of factors.

These include hormone problems, sexual dysfunction and other health conditions linked to obesity such as type 2 diabetes and sleep apnoea which are both associated with lowered testosterone levels and erectile problems. Read more: Why men need to think about their fertility too.

A review of studies on the effects of paternal obesity on reproductive outcomes found obese men were more likely to experience infertility and less likely to have a live birth if they and their partner used assisted reproduction technology ART such as IVF.

This is thought to be because obesity not only reduces sperm quality, it also changes the physical and molecular structure of sperm cells. While the facts about obesity and fertility can seem daunting, there is some good news too. Weight-loss interventions, particularly those that include both diet and exercise, can promote menstrual cycle regularity and improve the chance of pregnancy. If you have: 2 Underweight BMI of less than What are the health risks for the mother of having overweight or obesity during pregnancy?

These include: Gestational hypertension high blood pressure during pregnancy. If not controlled during pregnancy, gestational hypertension may lead to a more serious condition called preeclampsia. Gestational diabetes diabetes that starts during pregnancy. Having overweight or obesity raises the risk for gestational diabetes. Women who have had gestational diabetes also have a higher lifetime risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes can cause low blood sugar in the infant.

Unborn babies may also be larger, which could injure the baby or the mother during birth. Increased risk for C-section 3 Talk to your doctor, nurse, or midwife about healthy weight gain during pregnancy to help lower your risk for these health problems. How does having overweight or obesity during pregnancy affect the baby?

Babies born to mothers with overweight or obesity are at higher risk for health problems, including: 3 Neural tube defects, such as spina bifida Heart defects Low blood sugar and larger body size, if the mother has gestational diabetes Obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol.

How does being underweight during pregnancy affect the baby? These infants are at risk for health and development problems as they get older. Did we answer your question about weight, fertility, and pregnancy?

For more information about weight, fertility, and pregnancy, call the OWH Helpline at or check out the following resources from other organizations: Managing your weight gain during pregnancy — Information from the National Library of Medicine.