Reena was 37 years old, had polycystic ovaries (PCOS/PCOD), and weighed 156 Kilograms (344 lbs).
Statistics show that India has more than 30 million obese people of which the majority are women. In urban cities, more than 23% women are overweight or obese.
Globally, an individual’s BMI (body mass index) is used as a measure to determine whether they can be termed underweight, overweight or obese. BMIis calculated by dividing total body weight in kilograms by height in meters squared.
While internationally a BMI of over 25 kg/m² is considered overweight, the alarming obesity trends in India led to the revision of obesity guidelines by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Since the revised guidelines were announced in 2012, any individual with BMI between 23 and 24.9 kg/m² is considered overweight. A BMI of 25.0 kg/ m²or more is termed clinically obese.
Overweight is generally associated with health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. In addition, overweight pregnant women face a higher risk of complications such as high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and premature labour.
Why is Obesity linked to Infertility?
For decades researchers have worked to establish a link between excess body weight and infertility in both men and women. Many studies have demonstrated how being overweight or obese can affect natural conception in several ways:
- Obesity in women of child-bearing age can cause irregular periods which can disrupt the monthly ovulation cycle.
- Obese women have increased insulin resistance and many have higher levels of male hormones called androgens – factors which can lead to an ovulation (no ovulation).
- Even in women who have regular periods, obesity poses a risk of developing fertility problems by causing hormonal imbalances.
- There is some evidence indicating that excess fat tissue in the body interferes with the production of hormones and proteins involved in reproduction.
- PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is a known cause of infertility in women. If a woman has PCOS and is also overweight, it can significantly impact her ability to conceive naturally. On the other hand, since PCOS leads to weight gain, the problem of infertility can get compounded further even in women of healthy weight.
Gaudium IVF centre specializes in PCOS/PCOD treatment (Learn more)
- In men, obesity has been linked to low testosterone levels, poor semen quality, erectile dysfunction and androgen imbalance. In severe obesity, reduced spermatogenesis (the process of sperm formation) may lead to infertility.
- Obesity can increase the risk of miscarriage and can affect the outcomes of IVF and other forms of assisted reproductive technologies (ART).
I am clinically obese. Can I still conceive through IVF?
Successful pregnancies in obese women who undertake infertility treatment are not impossible, but can be extremely challenging. Potential complications can include poor response to ovulation-inducing medication, more complicated IVF cycles, and greater risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, caesarean section and higher incidence of health complications during pregnancy.
The risk of developing gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia is several times higher in obese women compared to women of healthy weight. Due to a heightened risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, if a woman is obese and has had problems with natural conception, she should seek the help of a competent and experienced IVF specialist as early as possible.
The Joyful Culmination of Reena’s 10-year Ordeal
When Reena and her husband first came to Gaudium, they were mentally and physically exhausted, and quite understandably, disillusioned with IVF. The couple had been married for 10 years and had had to deal with two previously failed IVF cycles.
Our experts determined that the couple needed psychological support just as much as they needed the right fertility treatment. After several joint and individual counselling sessions, Reena was put on a special protocol for PCOD treatment. Our nutritionist designed a tailor-made weight-loss program to help her achieve optimum weight loss. Under close monitoring by Dr. Manika Khanna at each step, she underwent one cycle of IVF and ET (Embryo Transfer) and conceived in the very first attempt.
After successful IVF treatment at Gaudium Infertility Clinic Delhi, Reena delivered two healthy babies in December 2014. Her PCOD and weight loss treatments were continued post-delivery. Today she is a healthy mother of two.
Untreated PCOS/PCOD in overweight women can lead to severe infertility which can take longer to treat. Therefore, seeking timely medical support is crucial to increase your chances of conceiving through IVF.