Being Underweight Can Significantly Reduce the Chances to Conceive

People who are substantially underweight can have as many health problems as people who are obese or substantially overweight. People who are substantially underweight can have a variety of medical problems ranging from nutritional deficiencies to even conceiving a baby. One of the main reasons people who are underweight have trouble conceiving is that they often have trouble with the ovulation process. Many substantially underweight people often quit have severe menstrual problems that are triggered by the body not being willing to release an egg. Failure to release an egg from the ovary means that the fertilization process is compromised, just as the menstrual cycle is halted.

People who are underweight are encouraged to try and increase their diets and gain some weight to become more reproductive stable and thereby increase their chances with fertility. Underweight people often are at risk for health concerns with nutritional deficiencies and thereby need to increase their diet accordingly to make sure they have all the nutrients needed for proper health during not only the fertility process but after the baby is conceived throughout the gestational process.

Folic acid is one of the key nutrients for proper health during pregnancy, along with vitamins A, K, B and E. Minerals such as zinc, calcium and iron are also important during a pregnancy. Proper nutrients play a key role in any pregnancy and increases the chances of a healthy baby. People who are folic acid deficient have and increased risk for babies being born with neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

Other problems for women who are underweight is that if they do conceive they are at an increased risk for miscarriage or premature births, as well as low birth weight pregnancies. Low birth weight pregnancies or babies that are small for their gestational age are malnourished in the womb and lack of nourishment in the womb can cause severe health problems for the fetus before and after birth.

Women who are trying to conceive and are underweight should keep it mind that it takes approximately 16 to 18 percent of body fat for normal ovulation. If a woman is substantially underweight her body fat may be too low which disrupts the hormonal flow from the brain to the pituitary gland. This disruption is what causes the egg not to be released from the ovary.

Women who are substantially underweight gain weight and body fat but still have trouble conceiving may be suffering from other medical conditions such as endometriosis or polycystic ovarian disease, both of which can decrease the chances for a normal reproductive cycle thereby making it difficult to conceive.

Normally a woman should be near or at their ideal weight for three months prior to getting pregnant. Sometimes modifying your diet, exercise plan and even stress can address some of the underweight issues a woman may have prior to conceiving. It is important to get in to the best condition physically as you can prior to conceiving because medically speaking a whole host of medical problems with the babies physical development takes place early on during the conception and gestational process. The baby rapidly develops over the first three months and then continues to grow throughout the pregnancy.

It is also important to make a visit prior to trying to conceive to talk with your physician about any deficiencies or concerns that you may have. Your physician will be able to run tests in order to help evaluate your health prior to conception.

References for this article include: pregnancy.families.com/blog/can-being-underweight-affect-fertility
www.thelaboroflove.com/articles/does-being-underweight-affect-my-chances-of-conceiving/
www.preconception.com/articles/conditions-affecting-conception-and-pregnancy/the-skinny-on-weight-while-trying-to-conceive-1279/
www.ivillage.co.uk/pregnancyandbaby/fertility/conception/qas/0,,4_161470,00.html