Every 15 couples experience infertility problems. We enlisted a specialist to dispel misconceptions and lay out the truth about obesity and reproductive health because the battle can be extremely difficult and stressful, both physically and emotionally.
In the Indian subcontinent, it is customarily taboo to talk about infertility or reproductive health. However, one in every fifteen couples today are dealing with infertility. The Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction estimates that there are 27.5 million infertile men and women in India.
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Fighting “infertility” can be very difficult and stressful, both mentally and physically. There are many factors contributing to the rapidly rising rate of infertility, and in recent years, obesity has come to light as one of the major reasons why both men and women struggle with their fertility.
Fighting “infertility” can be very difficult and stressful, both mentally and physically. There are many factors contributing to the rapidly rising rate of infertility, and in recent years, obesity has come to light as one of the major reasons why both men and women struggle with their fertility.
She said, “Women who are obese are more likely to be insulin resistant, which in turn encourages the onset of polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS [PCOS is a condition in which the ovaries enlarge and develop numerous small collections of fluid].” Increased levels of several hormones, including luteinizing hormone, leptin, insulin, estrone, triglycerides, and very low density lipoproteins, negatively affect the hypopituitary gonadotrophic axis, resulting in infertility.
Myth 1: Obesity is only brought on by poor diet and self-inflicted.
Obese and infertile people, particularly women, struggle with double stigma. It has now been established that eating the wrong foods is not the only cause of obesity. It is the result of intricate interactions between factors related to genetics, development, behaviour, and the environment. Obesity is a disease that can affect anyone, just like diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease. Since obesity is not a self-inflicted condition, we must work to lessen prejudice and stigma associated with it.
Myth 2: You can lose weight by eating less and exercising more.
A key component of treating obesity is changing one’s diet and way of life. It cannot be used alone to treat all stages of obesity, nor is it the only treatment available. Diet and lifestyle changes only benefit those who fall into the “overweight” category. The intensity of treatment must rise along with the patient’s weight and body mass index. Depending on the stage of the disease, treatment options for obesity include pharmacotherapy, endoscopic therapies, and bariatric surgery alone or in combination. Not all patients will benefit from being forced into unending fad diets if they are severely obese.
Myth 3: Obesity only affects women’s fertility
Obesity not only affects female fertility rates but also negatively affects male fertility. It can result in low sperm counts, erectile dysfunction, and men who are less interested in having sexual relations.
Myth 4: Weight loss surgery can negatively impact fertility.
Studies have now established that weight loss following bariatric surgery benefits both female and male fertility. Obesity-related reproductive abnormalities usually get better after losing weight. PCOS gets better, period cycles become more regular, and anovulatory cycles start to become ovulatory. For women who are obese and infertile, bariatric surgery is a miracle cure. The likelihood of conceiving naturally rises significantly, and even assisted reproductive techniques like IVF and others produce much better results after losing weight. After surgery, it takes between 12 and 18 months for weight loss and nutritional status to stabilise. Most women can then proceed with conception as directed by their doctor after this.
“It is crucial that overweight and obese women visiting infertility clinics receive the necessary guidance about weight loss once other causes of infertility have been ruled out. Obesity-related reproductive abnormalities usually get better after losing weight. The first piece of advice should always be to change one’s lifestyle, which serves as the therapy’s cornerstone. Patients must start on diet and exercise regimens under medical supervision. Depending on the stage and severity of the obesity, other treatment options like pharmacotherapy, endoscopic therapies, and bariatric surgery may be considered. According to the patient’s clinical profile, a specialist should be consulted to recommend the best course of treatment, Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker said.
