Obesity is a complex condition that has a negative impact on people globally and is becoming a focal point in modern healthcare regarding costs, policies, and interventions.
Obesity’s effect on reproductive function, particularly ovulatory problems, is mostly caused by endocrine mechanisms that disrupt neuroendocrine and ovarian functioning, leading to a decrease in ovulation regulation. Obese women have a three times higher chance of infertility compared to non-obese women. Studies have revealed that obese women take longer to conceive.
Infertility can be affected by lifestyle variables such as smoking, drinking an excessive amount of alcohol, and being overweight.
Obesity can have a significant impact on fertility, both in men and women. Here’s how it affects fertility:
Menstrual Irregularities and Ovulation Problems in Women:
Obesity can cause disturbances in the menstrual cycle, resulting in irregular periods or amenorrhoea (lack of menstruation). This inconsistency can hinder women’s ability to anticipate ovulation, a critical factor for conception.
Hormonal Imbalance:
Excessive body fat can disturb hormone balances, affecting insulin and sex hormones like oestrogen and testosterone. These discrepancies can disrupt ovulation and reduce the likelihood of successful fertilisation.
Reduced Ovulation:
Obese women have a higher likelihood of experiencing anovulation, a condition characterised by irregular release of eggs from the ovaries. This decreases the likelihood of pregnancy each menstrual cycle.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS):
Obesity is closely linked to PCOS, a disorder marked by hormonal abnormalities. PCOS can lead to irregular menstrual cycles, lack of ovulation, and challenges in achieving pregnancy.
Decreased Sperm Quality in Men:
Obesity can have adverse effects on sperm quality, affecting sperm count, motility, and morphology. Obesity can lead to hormonal imbalances and oxidative stress, which can harm sperm cells and decrease fertility.
Erectile Dysfunction:
Obese men have a higher likelihood of suffering from erectile dysfunction, which can impact their capacity to obtain and sustain an erection required for sexual intercourse and reproduction.
Reduced Success Rates with Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART):
Obese persons may experience reduced success rates with procedures like in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI). This is partially attributed to challenges in embryo implantation and increased occurrences of pregnancy problems.
Assisted reproduction technologies (ART) have been in use for over 30 years, resulting in over 5 million children born globally through interventions like in vitro fertilisation (IVF). However, these technologies remain scarce, hard to reach, and costly in numerous regions, especially in low and middle-income countries (LMIC).
CIFAR Infertility Centre offer ART assisted IVF Treatment
CIFAR Infertility Treatment Centre provides Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), such as In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), to assist individuals and couples in addressing infertility issues.
Conclusion:
Obesity can have a complex effect on fertility in both men and women through different physiological pathways. Improving reproductive outcomes for obese persons can be achieved by maintaining a healthy weight through food, exercise, and lifestyle changes.
Sources
- https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/fertility-blog/2014/may/whats-the-link-between-obesity-and-infertility
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5845358/
- https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ijgo.14538