How much overweight does one need to be, before it starts affecting fertility?

[mammyoftwo]

My gp once told me that being overweight effects ttc far more than being underweight (something to do with imbalance of hormones).

Does anyone know what percentage etc one can be overweight before it effects things?

I don't have an exact answer to your question but in 2012 I lost 50lbs and had a BMI of 33 (13 stone 10 and 5'4) and fell pregnant second cycle trying. I then put on 5 stone and now have BMI of 44 (18 stone 2 currently but losing) and am on my 34th cycle with no luck.

Bmi over 30

Being underweight has more effect on female fertility than overweight. Opposite for men. But there is an upper threshold at which fertility drops- this is different for everyone.

Depends a bit on your general health. For me a bmi of over 24 causes long cycles and symptoms of poly cystic ovaries (no formal diagnosis) but if I’m a healthy weight I have a 30 day cycle.

My bmi classes me in the obese category and I conceived first month of ttc

I am not sure of figures exactly, but I know for myself if I eat badly for a while and gain a bit of weight my cycle goes a bit haywire, anything from 28 to 36 days, which makes planning for TTC very difficult. If I eat well my cycle is way more regular at 28/29 days. That said, I have a BMI of 22 and I am still on my 8th cycle, so being at a healthy BMI clearly hasnt helped me. My SIL is overweight and conceived in her first month. Its probably good to be a healthy BMI but it seems like its not key to it all.

Thanks ladies, all helpful

My BMI puts me in the healthy range but we've been TTC for over a year now with no luck. So I think it really depends on the individual.

Yep agree it depends on individual. I have a BMI of 21.3 bang in the middle of the healthy and have been ttc #1 for 16 months!

If you are overweight I don’t think it will harm loosing weight but not sure how much it affects fertility

I've been wondering this too. My BMI is 26 so just over the threshold for normal. I did read somewhere that even a 5% reduction in your bodyweight can improve fertility but I have no idea how true that is!

mammy did your GP say anything about why? I know there is some interaction between fat cells and oestrogen but I don't totally understand it.

I have a BMI of 39 and got pregnant the first time by accident (condom leak) and second DS was on the 1st time we dtd without contraception. I eat a lot but I don't drink, smoke, drugs, low stress etc.. I don't know if it's luck or a balance of all these things.

miserable I can't remember if she told me the specifics, I only remember her telling me that hormones were effectively "out of balance" by obesity.

Ttc dc1 I was overweight and had been ttc for almost a year. I seriously then got exercising, the weight came off and dc1 was conceived at upper end of healthy weight for my height.

After losing pregnancy weight I lost another stone and was low end of healthy weight when ttc dc2 (who was conceived first month trying).

Last year I started exercising again, got to optimal weight, but then Christmas and boom! I have it all and more on again!!!!! I am so cross at myself. As am due to commence ttc dc3 in March (am now paranoid and querying if this is some sort of subconscious sabotage on my part??!!) Either way, I just need to stop eating rubbish.

Age 39 and BMI 40 conceived after 5mths of trying. My little 12wk old baby is currently cuddling me in bed x Not sure it actually effects fertility that much, there must be many other more important factors. I was fit though despite being heavy, 5x days a week in the gym and good proprtion of muscle over fat.

Congratulations!!!! Enjoy those newborn cuddles :)

mammyoftwo I think it only affects cycle length, if your cycles at 35 days or below then you have an 80%chance of conceiving in one year

It's interesting as my periods are bang on 29 days when I'm overweight and eating crap, but go haywire when I lose weight or I'm slim. They start being late by upto a week or skipping a month altogether.

@DenPerry. Mine are a but like this. When I was a lower weight I barely saw a period.

Got my period yesterday, may start ttc this month

We weren't TTC but weren't preventing it either, went 3 years with no pregnancy. I was around 12 stone, lost weight went down to around 10 Stone & gotbpregnant almost immediately after hitting the 10 mark. Also... gained weight back during pregnant DD is now 8 months old & still BF went back from on the diet lose 14lbs & had my first period. Im convinced my weight hugely impacts my fertility! But saying that I know some large women who have no trouble at all. Definitely down to the individual. I think losing weight is especially beneficial to women with PCOS who are TTC. Good luck!