Yes, BMI does affect fertility.
Obesity and being overweight affect the function of ovaries and may result in a lower amount of hormones circulating in the bloodstream. Being in these BMI categories may cause problems with getting pregnant and complicate the initial IVF therapy.
Extremely low BMI may also harm your potential to conceive — a certain amount of fat tissue is required to produce pregnancy hormones. Women who weigh very little tend to lose their periods and stop ovulating.
Bear in mind that there are tight associations between pre-pregnancy BMIs and a higher risk of complications typical for gestation. Both underweight and overweight women may see worse pregnancy outcomes compared to normal-weight women.
To summarize, keeping a healthy weight gain both before and during pregnancy is one of the best investments you could offer to yourself and your future child! Read more