- Статьи
- Science and technology
- Weight of the burden: every second overweight woman faces problems with conception
Weight of the burden: every second overweight woman faces problems with conception
Russian scientists have identified a link between body mass index and infertility. Even at the first stage of the metabolic syndrome, which is expressed by obesity in the abdomen and waist, a woman's ability to conceive a child decreases, the Sechenov Center for Motherhood and Childhood found out. Fertility problems can also be indicated by cycle failures and excessive body hair growth. At the same time, the possibility of conceiving a child is influenced by many different factors: age, the state of reproductive health, experts interviewed by Izvestia noted, therefore the problem must be solved comprehensively.
How are body mass index and infertility related?
In both women and men, overweight affects the ability to conceive a child. Even if we are talking about assisted reproductive technologies, the probability of embryo implantation decreases by 2.2–4.3% with each increase in body mass index (BMI) per unit. Conversely, when losing excess weight, reproductive health is restored. These conclusions were reached by specialists of the Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Sechenov Center for Motherhood and Childhood, after conducting a study with patients with infertility.
In general, infertility is three times less common in women without obesity than in patients with such a disease, the latter require more time to become pregnant, Professor Raisa Chilova, director of the clinic, head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology No. 1 at the First Moscow State Medical University, told Izvestia.
— That is, there is an inverse relationship between fertility and BMI. Obesity negatively affects the molecular and hormonal processes that balance the reproductive system. It interferes with the ovulation process, reduces the quality of oocytes (cells that develop into eggs) and the ability of the endometrium of the uterus to "accept" eggs. As a result, the probability of conception decreases and the risks of pregnancy loss in the first trimester, premature birth, perinatal complications in the fetus and complications in the mother increase," the professor noted.
Clinicians conducted a study involving 242 women who were experiencing problems with conception and were being treated for infertility. The patients were examined using clinical, instrumental, and laboratory methods.
Almost one in two — in 49.6% of cases — was diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. As the scientists explained, it is characterized by obesity in the abdomen and waist. The majority of patients with this disease (86.7%) had the first degree of its severity, 10.8% had the second and 2.5% had the third.
— The degrees of metabolic syndrome are distinguished by body mass index: pre—obesity – 25.0-29.9; 1st degree obesity — 30.0–34.9; 2nd degree — 35.0–39.9 and 3rd degree — 40, and the stages depend on the addition of risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes like kidney disease," the professor explained.
Fertility decreases even with grade 1 metabolic syndrome, the researchers noted. They concluded that endocrine disorders leading to obesity cause damage to the ovaries.
Metabolic syndrome is a complex of metabolic disorders. It becomes difficult for the body to process and use nutrients, especially glucose. The cells react worse to insulin, a hormone that allows glucose to enter the cells, causing blood sugar levels to rise. Obesity occurs, mainly in the abdomen and waist area. Fat begins to concentrate near the internal organs. Other early symptoms include menstrual irregularities and excessive body hair growth. The syndrome can lead to high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and infertility.
Signs of infertility in women
The study showed that obese patients are also significantly more likely to have menstrual cycle abnormalities — soreness, irregularity, abnormal duration — and other gynecological diseases. In addition, women with the 2nd and 3rd degrees of severity of metabolic syndrome are prone to high blood pressure, diseases of the abdominal cavity and kidneys.
To avoid problems, a woman should consult an obstetrician-gynecologist, endocrinologist and other specialists in order to diagnose the disease in time and prevent complications. When preparing for pregnancy, doctors recommend reducing body weight. Given that the 1st degree of the disease is most common, a low-calorie diet and metered physical activity are usually sufficient. But if there is no result, for example, in cases of severe endocrine system disorders, the doctor selects pharmacotherapy.
— It should be noted that we are talking only about cases when the body weight is really excessive. It is important not to overdo it — lack of weight, as well as its excess, can adversely affect the health of a woman and her unborn child, — said Raisa Chilova.
Another symptom that should be treated by a doctor is excessive body hair growth, the doctors noted.
The study raises a very important topic. Indeed, obesity and metabolic syndrome are directly related to reproductive disorders, Maxim Burikov, head of the Center for Bariatric Medicine at the Rostov-on-Don Medical Academy and co-founder of the Slimmer app, told Izvestia. Overweight and abdominal obesity are becoming a factor triggering metabolic disorders.
— Adipose tissue is not just an "energy reserve", but an active endocrine organ. It synthesizes hormones, including estrogens, which leads to imbalances and disruptions in the reproductive system. As a result, overweight women often experience menstrual irregularities, a decrease in the quality of follicle maturation and, as a result, difficulty conceiving," the doctor commented on the results of the study.
The positive news is that normalization of body weight, whether through lifestyle changes or, if necessary, bariatric surgery, restores fertility in some cases, the expert said. For many, after weight loss and stabilization, reproductive function returns and a long-awaited pregnancy begins.
— Of course, it is important to remember that infertility can have other gynecological causes, but if they are excluded, weight loss becomes an effective and proven method of improving reproductive function, — said Maxim Burikov.
Any factor has a range of influence beyond which both a deficiency and an excess are harmful, from this point of view, the conclusions of the Sechenovka researchers are intuitively understandable, Stanislav Stragnov, head of the Laboratory for the analysis of public health indicators and digitalization of healthcare at MIPT, told Izvestia.
— At the same time, the possibility of conceiving a child is influenced by many different factors: age, reproductive health, lack of vitamins, bad habits, stress, medications, diseases, the presence of genetic characteristics, — said the expert.
The influence of body weight pathologies is included in this list, but it is not a key cause in itself, he concluded.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
