Adding weight reduce your chance of getting pregnancy.

Many women don't realize that carrying extra weight could actually contribute to an inability to get pregnant.

Researchers have long suspected that weight heavily impacts fertility levels, and a new study by the New Hope Fertility Clinic appears to confirm the
relationship between obesity and oocyte number (egg cells).

So what are the dangers of being overweight, or underweight for that matter, and trying to conceive?

Studies have found that weight abnormalities, whether over or under, can often lead to ovulation problems and menstrual irregularities. Irregularities can cause serious issues including anovulation (a failure of the ovary to release an egg).

Women who are considered obese may experience other issues that can interfere with fertility.

For example, women who are heavier often tend to respond poorly to overall fertility medication. They are also more susceptible to developing ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome, which is a serious complication that can stem from fertility treatments.

Obese women also produce fewer eggs per cycle than women of average weight. In addition to these issues, obese women are at a greater risk from complications related to egg retrieval including bleeding.

It's not just feminine issues that can be impacted by weight. Being overweight can lead to serious hormonal imbalances, which might make it harder to become and remain pregnant.

On the other hand, being underweight may decrease overall hormone production, which is needed to support a healthy pregnancy.

It's also important to note the risks don't just apply to women who are trying to get pregnant. Even if obese women are able to conceive, they are more likely to have complicated pregnancies and are more likely to miscarry than women of average weight.

This begs the question: How do you know what weight category you are?

Many doctors use the Body Mass Index, or BMI. BMI takes into account your height and weight and gives you a numerical score. A healthy BMI score for an adult female is generally between 19 and 30.

You can easily find a BMI calculator online, such as this one by New Beginnings www.nbsurrogacy.com/resources/bmi-calculator/

So what should you do if you're overweight and trying to get pregnant? There are easy ways to help your chances of conceiving and your overall health. At New Hope Fertility Clinic we believe it's best to lose weight in a healthy manner, not by fad dieting.

Try introducing small life changes, walk more or take the stairs instead of the elevator. Make sure you're exercising at least three to four days a week for at least 30 minutes at a time.

When it comes to food, you should try to limit the unhealthy foods you eat. But even more importantly, monitor your servings. You should probably be eating a portion that's about a third of your current serving.

But want to know the absolute key to losing weight? Make sure you are doing things that make you happy.

A pioneer in the area of minimally invasive (Natural Cycle and Mini-IVF) fertility care, Dr. John Zhang founded New Hope Fertility Center in 2004, and has since opened locations in China, Russia, and Mexico.