How does being overweight impact my chances of conception?

Question

My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for almost 2 years now. I miscarried at approx. 6 weeks in May, but that was the closest we ever got to conception. I am about 5'10" tall, and probably 50 or 60 pounds overweight. My husband is probably about 30 pounds overweight. I just wanted to understand how being overweight can impact my chances of getting pregnant. Unfortunately my insurance does not cover any infertility-related procedures, and we can not afford to do the tests recommended by my ob/gyn, (i.e. tubal blockage, sperm counts, etc.) but my husband and I have wondered how much our weight may have to do with the fact that after 2 years of trying, we still are not pregnant. Thank you for not criticizing our weight issues in your responses.

Answer 1

Hi there!!

I'm I am 5'11". When my husband and I started trying to get pregnant I weighed 245. Ideal weight for being 5'11" is around 175 pounds. I started to exercise and went on a diet. I ended up getting down to 217 -- Lost almost 30 pounds. Then we found out I was pregnant. We only tried for a few months, not two years. My husband is not overweight but he's not skinny either. He's 5'10" and weighs just under 200 I think; but he hasn't been weighed in a while. Now I'm having our little baby in about 3 weeks, depending on the little guys mood!!!

Someone else mentioned ovarian cysts. Throughout my pregnancy I have had a cyst on my ovary. It's about 9 - 10 cm in diameter (about the size of an orange. It's never caused me any pain and it will be removed once I have the baby. My cyst is sitting really low into my pelvic area, and because it's so low, I may need to have a C-Section. But that's ok with me, as long as my little baby is healthy! I've gained almost 50 pounds, which is MUCH more than I should be gaining. But I'm still healthy and I passed the Diabetes test. I've also had swollen feet a few times, but my doc says it's not Pre-eclampsia because only my feet swelled up, not anything else. I just shouldn't sit/stand for really long periods of time.

So to answer your question, I don't think it has much to do with being overweight. I would really try to have a sperm count done. You would only need to get it done once, and then you would know. I have no idea how much it cost, but it would only benefit you to know, whether if it's a low or high count.

For the few months that we tried and didn't get pregnant, I didn't think we were ever going to. But then we did. Keep trying and try to save a little extra each week or month to get a sperm count. Like I said, it will only benefit you to know the results!

Good Luck and I hope this information is helpful to you!! I know you will get pregant and have a wonderful little baby!!

Answer 2

All I can tell you is this. My husband and I also took two years to have a baby. I was about 90 pounds overweight when we started. A doctor did suggest my weight might be a factor and I started losing. Diet excerise and I used Stacker 2. By the time I'd lost 40 pounds, we found out I was pregnant. I think that my wieght may have been a factor, but I can't say that it's your problem.

Think about it this way though, losing weight would be good for both of you, and if it helps you have a baby too, all the better. It's New Years, every gym in the country is having specials, give it a try. It can't hurt.

Answer 3

Because being overweight puts strain on you body to begin with if becomes more difficult to become pregnant. When I was going through fertility treatments I was told I needed to loose 30 pounds before they would even help me. I have also had friends who were heavy and as soon as they lost the weight they became pregnant. There are so many disorders related to being overweight, like high blood pressure, diabetes and thyroid problems. Some of these can contribute to fertility problems. I know how difficult it is to shed weight. It is even more difficult when you are depressed about things like trying to have a baby. I had to challenge myself and give myself a goal. Like I can try to have a baby if I loose 30 pounds and become more healthy for me and the baby. I wish you the best and I hope this helps.

Answer 4

Yeah Girl, As long as you have regular cycle ( periods) it has nothing to do with your weight. Sometimes weight can stop a women from having regular periods which caused there eggs not to release. A miscarriage has more to do with you uterus than weight so don't blame yourself. For what ever reason just simply it wasn't meant to be this time. Everything happens for a reason even if you don't agree. I have had my sure of miscarries and it hurts I know but keep trying. Stay strong ! And as for the weight thing if your happy than thats all the matter people come all different sizes, my husband always tells me its more to love. Take care

Answer 5

I am about the same size as you. I was the same size when I conceived my daughter 2 years ago. It took 9 months to conceive her but the month before my doctor discovered that I had a mild case of endometriosis, which he removed. I thought we had solved the problem so it would be easy for me to conceive again. However, I am in my 8th month ttc again. I asked my OB if my weight was an issue. He said only if it was interfering with ovulation, which it is not. I am currently seeing a fertiltiy specialist.

Are you sure your insurance doesn't cover any testing? My insurance doesn't cover treatments, but it does cover testing to see if I'm infertile. You can talk to your doctor about your coverage. Sometimes it's just how their office bills the insurance company.

My suggestion would be to start charting your daily basal body temperatures to see if and when you are ovulating. You'll need to buy a basal thermometer (also called a fertility thermometer). You can buy them at most drug stores for about $10. Take your temp every morning before getting out of bed. When your temp rises about 0.5 degrees F, then you ovulated the day before. You can learn more about charting your bbt and chart your temps for free at fertilityfriend.com. Because your temp rises the day after you ovulate, you may also want to use an ovulation kit in addition to charting so you have sex before you ovulate. BBT charts are good to show your doctor to help diagnose certain infertility problems. For instance, if you are not ovulating, there are medications, such as Clomid or Femera, that can help you ovulate. If you are not ovulating due to a medical condition, such as PCOS, then there are medications that you can take for that. I don't have PCOS, but you can search on-line about it to see if you have any symptoms.

Also, if you have a Costco near you then you can get fertility meds filled there much cheaper. You don't have to be a member to get prescriptions filled there either.

My insurance doesn't cover the sperm analysis my husband had done, but it was only $50. I know that's not spare change, but it's a small price to pay compared to some of the other tests. My husband is about 30 lbs. overweight as well and it hasn't effected his count. He also smokes and drinks beer occasionally. He recently quit smoking.

I may have covered more than you needed, but I just wanted to make sure you checked all your options. I wish you all the best.

Answer 6

Yes it could impact it....if your healthy and active and eat well then it should not. If you don't exercise and eat like CRAP then yes it will have a negative impact. Make sure your hubby isn't drinking alot and is eating right...this will improve your chances.. also try taking 400mcg a day of Folic Acid Vitamin Supplement until you conceive...this will improve the chances TRUST ME! You can get it at any grocery store.

Answer 7

I don't know if it hurts your chances but for your own sake and the health of your baby when you do wind up getting pregnant you should try to lose some of the extra weight. Especially since you will put on more during your pregnancy. Best of luck to you!

Answer 8

Weight does not have anything to do with it, regardless of what the doctors say- remeber it is the "practice" of medicine, not the exact science of medicine. Anyway.. When I got preggo with my first I was 230 lbs, I am 5'4", so I was plenty over weight. With my second I weighed 235, and now with my third ( I hate admitting this) I was 260 lbs when I got pregnant. I am lucky though each time I planned getting pregnant and was able to concieve on the first try. Cept my son (the second one) he was sort of an accident, but a happy one of course. *anyway* I have also know *much* larger women with kids.

I do not want to disapoint you but some people just can not have kids and my personal belief with that is because of God- either you are going to have kids, or not. I suggest you try and relax about getting pregnant, and pray about it, thanking him either way of course, and if it is not in your chart to have a baby, why not try adopting?

sorry if the whole god thing offends, just my personal opinion, not pushing any type of religion on you, just whatever god is yours.

Answer 9

It's really hard to tell if your weight has anything to do with it and it doubt it does, however, if you feel it may be affecting your chances then try to lose a little weight, it can't hurt right? Good luck to you and your husband!

Answer 10

i am about the same amount overweight and i have NEVER had a problem getting pregnant. and i dont even try to get pregnant or anything. im in second pregnancy and i got pregnant on the "first try" which i mean that i had sex ONCE with someone and got pregnant (with the first pregnancy we used a condom but it broke and the second one im not really sure if we used one. (it was a date rape thing and i was unconcious)