Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
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 Ask Dr. Greenfield
Being Overweight and Getting Pregnant | | | QUESTION | | | | I am 75 pounds overweight and my mother told me that I couldn't get pregnant because of this. Is she right? — Ktesawyer in Alabama | | | ANSWER |
December 4, 2001 | | | Dear Ktesawyer,
I am so glad that you asked this question, because the answer is relevant for a lot of women. Yes, being overweight sometimes interferes with getting pregnant. Some overweight women don't ovulate regularly, a condition sometimes referred to as polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS. That said, many women a lot more overweight than you are get pregnant just fine. I certainly have provided prenatal care for women who are more than 100 pounds overweight at the start of the pregnancy. So, I wouldn't consider being overweight as a reliable method of birth control, if that is what you mother is promising you.
On the other hand, if you are overweight and have irregular periods, or have tried to conceive for a year without success, your weight might be playing a role in the difficulty. If you are trying to get pregnant, a visit to the doctor can help assess if you are ovulating regularly.
I hope this answered your question. Take care.— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. |
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