Ask The Nutritionist

Fertility MD believes that body weight might be contributing to infertility

Q. Dear Lory, RD
My husband and I have begun seeing a fertility MD in hopes of conceiving our first child. We have been trying to have a baby for 2 years now. Our fertility MD believes that our current body weight might be contributing to our infertility. The doctor has recommended we both see a registered dietitian. Is this necessary for us both? My husband does not think so. I am 33 yrs old, 5’6” and 225 lbs. My husband is 35 yrs old 5’9” and 248 lbs. Can you give us your thoughts on nutrition counseling for couples in regards to infertility?
Sincerely,
Joan
 Denver, CO.

A. Dear Joan,
Your MD is absolutely right about couple’s nutrition for fertility treatment. He is basing his recommendation on several factors.
First and foremost, couples that work together to modify their lifestyle (i.e.; lose weight, stop smoking, start exercising) tend to be more successful. Think about how difficult it would be if you had to prepare separate grocery lists and separate meals based on varying meal plans. Also, if you both change your unhealthy habits together, you will be setting a good example for your future family. Many of our current food choices and eating patterns are environmentally induced. We eat as our parents did, good or bad.

From a medical standpoint, based on your current height and weight, you have a BMI (body mass index) of 36 and your husband’s BMI is 37. A BMI greater than 30 is considered obese.

For women, obesity carries certain health risks as well as fertility issues. Not only does obesity increase the risk of type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and stroke, it also may cause irregular or infrequent menstrual cycles, increased risk of infertility, increased risk during fertility surgery, increased risk of miscarriage, and a decreased success with fertility treatments.

For men, obesity has the same health risks and its own set of fertility issues. Obese men have a higher risk of type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and stroke, but recent research has also indicated that obesity can reduce the quality of men’s sperm as well as lower the sperm count. In fact, overweight men who have a body mass index over 25 may have a 22% lower sperm concentration and a 24% lower total sperm count when compared to healthy weight men (a BMI less than 25).

 You are investing both time and money on fertility treatments so meeting with a registered dietitian together and making the lifestyle changes necessary to bring about healthy weight loss would ultimately be a protection of your investment.  

Sincerely,
Lory, RD

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Lory Hayon, B.S., R.D.
Registered Dietitian & Nutritionist.
Lory@FertilityCenterLV.com