Tips for shed that extra weight before an IVF treatment. Overweight and fertility
Some time ago we talked about how being overweight has a negative impact on both male and female fertility, and about the importance of losing weight if you are going to undergo fertility treatment.
Today, our psychologist who is an expert in assisted reproduction will provide us with some tips for how to shed that extra weight so that we can embark on our IVF treatment under the best possible conditions.
How does being overweight affect fertility?
Stress increases the risk of being overweight, and being overweight can lead to fertility issues. Keeping both of these obstacles at bay is a priority when it comes to your family planning project.
On occasion we may have wondered if being overweight or obese can be detrimental when it comes to getting pregnant. Our ideal weight or «normal weight» is not based on beauty standards or fashion trends, but rather on appropriate parameters for each person based on their sex, age, body makeup, activity levels, etc. These parameters all help to determine the percentage of body fat which is necessary to carry out our daily bodily functions, including our fertility.
Oestrogen and fertility
Ovulation is affected by weight excess as the hormone oestrogen is naturally produced by the ovaries in addition to being produced by our fat cells, or adipocytes.
Men also produce the hormone oestrogen, and an excess of this hormone can negatively affect sperm quality by leading to decreased sperm production.
Oestrogen is the sex hormone that helps to regulate our menstrual cycle if our level of this hormone is correct. As we gain weight, our body has to manage a greater amount of oestrogen (the amounts produced by the ovaries and by adipocytes), and this will have a negative impact on our chances of getting pregnant, on maintaining regular ovulatory cycles, it can lead to polycystic ovarian syndrome or even affect proper development of the endometrium, for example.
Fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilisation, which can also initially be a source of stress, can also be impacted by weight excess (and therefore by oestrogen) as well as during pregnancy with the development of hypertension or gestational diabetes.
In the past, it was thought that you had to «eat for two«, but the truth is that several studies have shown that controlling weight gain throughout pregnancy is a guarantee of health for both the mother and the foetus. Maintaining an ideal weight is a guarantee for success in terms of fertilisation, pregnancy development and finally childbirth.
The impact of emotions on fertility
On an emotional level, experiencing infertility, undergoing medical testing, fertility treatments and critical moments such as the two-week wait can all cause very high levels of stress and anxiety that we must learn to channel. Under a state of stress, an increase in cortisol levels alters our feelings of hunger or satiety, resulting in an urgent need to eat, something we call ‘emotional eating‘, and it also means we’re more likely to eat certain types of foods such as sugars or carbohydrates to self-regulate, distract ourselves or to relax.
Building healthy habits together with a professional, psychological approach will help us control our intake of foods when we’re stressed.
10 Tips to Control Stress
Here we’ve listed some tips which will help you to control your stress levels, and in turn help you to maintain a healthy weight.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet and eat amounts that are appropriate for your weight, height, sex and activity levels.
- Limit your consumption of refined sugars, store-bought baked goods, processed foods, alcohol and fizzy or sugary drinks.
- Drink at least two litres of water daily.
- Maintain an active lifestyle and exercise regularly to release endorphins.
- Identify sources of stress and problems. If you can change them, find an approach that works for you, or learn to let go if they are things you cannot change.
- Learn to take things in stride and to relax.
- Get enough rest.
- Adopt a positive attitude when it comes to day-to-day challenges.
- Seek support from the people around you.
- Consult with a psychologist who can help you by setting out guidelines for psycho-nutrition, emotion management and how to effectively handle critical situations.