General Surgery Specialist Op. Dr. Cihan Gökler, who said that obesity reduces the possibility of getting pregnant in women, apart from many health problems caused by obesity, said: “Studies show that obese women are 3 times more at risk of infertility than non-obese women and that these women need a longer time to get pregnant. Studies show that fertility decreases as BMI increases and fertility rates decrease even in obese women with normal cycles.”
General Surgery Specialist Op. Dr. Cihan Gökler from Medical Park Seyhan Hospital gave information about the molecular and endocrinological effects of obesity on female fertility. Stating that obesity is closely related not only with excess weight but also with hormone imbalances and metabolic disorders, Op. Dr. Gökler said, “Obesity causes infertility in both men and women for various reasons. It leads to various endocrinological mechanisms that negatively affect female reproductive health.”
“Obesity impairs ovulation function in women”
Stating that obesity is directly related to insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia and disruptions in the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis in women, Op. Dr. Gökler emphasized that this condition impairs ovulation function by affecting gonadotropin secretion and reduces women's chances of fertility.
Op. Dr. Gökler shared the following information about how obesity and overweight change hormone profiles: “Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia in obese women can lead to hyperandrogenemia and cause ovulation disorders. In addition, a decrease in sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBP) leads to dysregulation of the HPO axis with increased leptin levels.”
“It also negatively affects IVF treatment”
Stating that according to the data of the World Health Organization (WHO), a significant portion of women in the United States and many countries in Europe are overweight or obese, Op. Dr. Gökler said that the effects of obesity on fertility are serious. Pointing out that obese women often face problems such as menstrual irregularities, endometrial pathologies and infertility, Op. Dr. Gökler said, “Obesity is also associated with negative outcomes such as low oocyte quality and low preimplantation rate in women undergoing IVF treatment. Studies show that obese women are three times more at risk of infertility than non-obese women and that these women need longer to get pregnant.” “Studies show that fertility decreases as BMI increases and fertility rates decrease even in obese women with normal cycles,” said Dr. Gökler.
“It leads to a decrease in men's sperm count”
Stating that the relationship between obesity and male reproduction has been known since ancient times, Op. Dr. Gökler shared the following information:
“Ibn-i Sina mentioned the negative effects of obesity on male reproduction in his book. As a result of systemic inflammation caused by obesity in the male body, hypogonadism, increased adipose tissue on the organs, hyperinsulinemia, hyperleptinemia, a decrease in sperm quality and sperm count has been observed. In addition, erectile dysfunction has also been revealed in studies. Apart from this, studies on pregnant women have shown that pregnant women with obese spouses can conceive longer and the number of pregnancy attempts is higher.”
“Even moderate weight loss can increase the chances of conception”
Underlining that there are clinical studies showing that weight loss can significantly improve reproductive outcomes for both obese men and obese women, Op. Dr. Gökler said, “Even moderate weight loss has been associated with improved ovulation rates and higher chances of conception in women. It shows that lifestyle interventions focusing on diet and exercise can restore normal menstrual cycles and increase fertility in overweight women.”
Pointing out that intervening in obesity with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise along with surgical intervention can improve fertility outcomes, Op. Dr. Gökler said, “Even a 5-10 percent weight loss has been observed to increase the chance of conception. Therefore, weight management is vital for women facing obesity-related fertility problems.”
“Lifestyle changes are also important after surgery”
Stating that in many studies on sexual functions and reproduction in men after obesity surgery, it has been determined that there is an increase in sperm count, increase in erectile functions and increase in sexual desire, Op. Dr. Gökler said, “Obesity surgery is of great importance at this point. Along with obesity surgery, healthy lifestyle changes, weight loss and regular physical activity are a critical step to protect and improve female and male reproductive health.”
“A specialist should be consulted for an appropriate treatment plan”
Emphasizing that the effects of obesity on reproduction are complex and multidimensional, Op. Dr. Gökler also drew attention to the importance of early diagnosis and treatment and said:
“Individuals should adopt a healthy lifestyle, eat a balanced diet and engage in regular physical activity. In addition, it is important that individuals with serious problems related to obesity consult a specialist for an appropriate treatment plan. There is a significant relationship between obesity and infertility. Getting rid of obesity provides a quality life and a significant improvement in reproductive functions.”
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