Obesity increases the risk of infertility

Infertility is a condition of reduced or no fertility. A couple is considered infertile if they have sex regularly, do not use contraception, but still cannot conceive after a year or 6 months with a wife over 35 years old. Factors that can cause infertility in both men and women include genetics, environment, lifestyle, overweight, and obesity.

Obesity is a complex chronic disease, caused by excessive fat accumulation, weakening health. Obese patients are at high risk of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, heart failure, stroke, reduced reproductive function or infertility.

BS.CKII Truong Thi Vanh Khuyen, Center for Weight Control and Obesity Treatment, Tam Anh General Hospital, explained that excess fat in the body affects the production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). GnRH triggers the release of luteinizing hormone (LH), luteinizing hormone, which is involved in follicle stimulation, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Both are important for egg and sperm development.

In women, white adipose tissue plays an important role in metabolism and secretes inflammatory cytokines. Accumulating a lot of white fat increases inflammatory reactions, metabolic disorders, insulin resistance… The above conditions cause menstrual disorders, the ability to stimulate the ovaries and reduce egg quality, making it difficult to get pregnant.

According to Dr. Khuyen, obesity is also a factor causing polycystic ovary disease. The disease affects the ovaries, disrupting the menstrual cycle, increasing male hormone levels, leading to the formation of many small cysts inside the ovaries. Polycystic ovaries reduce fertility and increase the risk of infertility.

In men, the hormone testosterone helps produce and develop mature sperm. Overweight and obesity can disrupt hormonal metabolism in men, inhibit testosterone production, and increase the formation of estrogen (female hormone). As body fat increases, leptin production also increases, affecting testosterone production. From there, sperm weakens, sexual desire decreases, and erectile dysfunction occurs.

Excess fat promotes inflammation, damaging sperm. High body mass index (BMI) in men is associated with low plasma concentrations of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), increasing infertility in men.

Not only does it cause infertility, obese people often suffer from diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease… These diseases all have negative impacts on fertility. .

Doctor Khuyen recommends that obese people lose weight to maintain stable health. Patients can start losing weight by adjusting their diet, prioritizing foods rich in fiber and vitamins, limiting unhealthy fats, combining exercise, and controlling stress. Reducing 5-10% of initial weight contributes to improving complications of obesity such as dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, hypogonadism, improving reproductive function… In cases of suicide, If weight loss is not effective, the patient should go to the hospital so the doctor can provide an individualized treatment solution suitable for each person.