One very important step that you can take to increase your chances of getting pregnant quickly and easily is to pay attention to your weight. Much research has shown that by reaching the proper weight for your body type six months before you want to conceive can have a strong effect on your ability to get pregnant.
Studies have been conducted that have found links between body fat and your reproductive hormones. Women who are underweight or overweight can suffer a hormone imbalance that can disrupt or even block ovulation. Your weight can have a huge influence on the production of key reproductive hormones in the body, namely estrogen.
Interestingly, the fat cells in your body convert certain body chemicals into estrogen, which is one of the key factors in egg production and release. The ovaries make up some of your body’s supply, but up to one third (and sometimes up to 80% at certain times of the month) of the body’s total supply is formed in your fat cells.
~The more fat cells you have, the greater ability your body has to create estrogen.
~The fewer fat cells you have, the less estrogen you make.
So you might think you should just have more ice cream and really get the fat cells working overtime, right? But the estrogen must be present at a specific level, you must not have too many, or too few fat cells in the body.
Being underweight can cause a hormonal imbalance in the body that can shut down the reproductive system. If you are not producing enough estrogen, because you are too thin, you can still ovulate, but may not be able to form a uterine lining strong enough to allow a fertilized egg to implant and grow. In more extreme cases of low weight, ovulation may not occur at all.
Being overweight can flood your system with an estrogen overload, and can cause your body to react as if it is on birth control, preventing ovulation from occurring. Also, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, being overweight can cause your insulin level to rise. This may cause the ovaries to produce too much testosterone, which can also block ovulation.
Check out the Body Mass Index calculator at the Department of Health and Human Services Website. Your ideal Fertility weight will be the Normal weight identified here.
If you decide to change your weight and your chances for conception, please do so under the guidance of a doctor or nutritionist. Be sure to loose or gain weight slowly, no more than one to one and one-half pounds per week. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and even if you are gaining, try to limit your intake of high fat foods. Make your food choices wisely and carefully.
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