The impact of BMI on fertility is different between women and men.
For women, being overweight and underweight can impact the quality of a woman’s eggs, her uterine lining and her ability to carry a pregnancy. In a large Dutch study, results showed that as BMI increases above 25 the chances a woman will not be able to conceive also rises quickly. The ideal BMI for women is between 20-25.
For men, abnormally high or low BMI also results in fertility challenges. In a large study of 20,000 men, the ideal BMI was between 20 and 22.5. Men with BMIs above this range showed a 30-40% risk of being able to conceive naturally. Interestingly, men with BMIs less than 20 actually showed a 50% risk of being able to conceive naturally.
What have you tried to maintain a healthy BMI?
