| What effect does a woman's weight have on her | | | | Insulin resistance occurs when the body is unable to |
| ability to conceive? Although, weight by itself is not a | | | | use insulin properly. In response, your body tries to |
| primary cause for a woman's infertility, it is a factor | | | | compensate by producing more insulin. Eventually, a |
| in probably 5 to 10% of all cases where a woman | | | | tipping point is reached where the excess insulin that |
| has trouble becoming pregnant. | | | | the body is producing begins to cause problems. |
| One factor that doctors look at in determining if you | | | | Insulin resistance is related to abnormal ovulation |
| are overweight is your body mass index or BMI. BMI | | | | functioning. Specifically, if you are overweight, you |
| is a widely used measure of obesity calculated by | | | | are at a greater risk for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome |
| determining a body's weight relative to it's height. It is | | | | or PCOS than women of normal weight. PCOS can |
| calculated by dividing your weight in pounds by your | | | | cause many fertility problems. It can cause abnormal |
| height in inches squared and multiplying it by a | | | | periods such as anovulatory where the woman stops |
| conversion factor. In mathematical terms, it can be | | | | ovulating. PCOS can also cause hormonal imbalances |
| described as (weight / (height * height) x 703) - | | | | such as high levels of androgens in the ovaries, |
| where 703 is the conversion factor. BMI is also used | | | | leading to conception problems. In addition, it can also |
| to determine if you are underweight. | | | | cause the ovaries to produce an excess of estrogen |
| Although not a definitive means of determining body | | | | and lead to abnormal thickening of the uterus lining. |
| fat, it offers a quick and easy and relatively accurate | | | | In addition to insulin resistance impeding the ability of |
| method to screen for people who are overweight. If | | | | a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus, it also |
| necessary, your health care specialist or fertility | | | | increases the probability of a miscarriage - by a |
| specialist may require more accurate methods of | | | | factor of 4 times greater than women of normal |
| determining percentages of body fat such as using | | | | weight. |
| calipers to measure your skin foldings or using | | | | Some symptoms of insulin resistance is acne, excess |
| hydrostatic weighing, where you are placed in a tank | | | | hair body growth, weight gain, and hypertension. |
| and your fat content measured by the amount of | | | | It is possible to reverse PCOS by losing weight and |
| water you displaced. | | | | changing the diet. There are also prescription drugs |
| Many health professionals believe that a BMI of 30 or | | | | that can be used to lower the insulin levels which will |
| over, qualifies you as being obese. And studies have | | | | lower the androgen levels in the woman's system. |
| shown that women with a BMI of 30 or over have | | | | If you believe that you may be overweight, finding |
| greater difficulty becoming pregnant than those that | | | | your BMI is a simple matter. Simply ask your doctor |
| are in the normal weight range. The reason is that | | | | or fertility care person for a BMI chart and for insight |
| women who are overweight are more likely to also | | | | as to how it's results affect your chances of |
| be insulin resistant. | | | | becoming pregnant. |