Obesity and the Success Rate of IVF Treatment

A couple’s regular actions and lifestyle have a serious influence on their ability to conceive. Women who are considerably overweight or underweight may have difficulty becoming pregnant either naturally or by IVF (in vitro fertilization). They need proper diet and relevant level of exercise. Obesity results in a rise in the production of estrogen; this hormonal imbalance will meddle with ovulation, which is the basis of successful conception.

A person is categorized as being obese if thirty per cent of her body weight consists of fat tissues. Ovulatory disorders are the main cause of female infertility, resulting in the disruption of hormones, menstrual cycles, and child-bearing. Approximately 15% of such disorders are associated to weight disorders; primarily being overweight and obese.

Altering the diet and shunning away food that is high in saturated or Trans-fat or high in sugar is recommended. Trans fat (also known as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fat) which is mostly found in commercially prepared baked goods, fried foods, and processed snack can agitate normal ovulation by interfering with a cell receptor that restrains inflammation, glucose metabolism, and insulin sensitivity.

Enriching the diet with whole grains, vegetables, fruits and lean proteins is the best for the pair. Drink many glasses of water; eat multivitamins or mineral supplements to take care of your health. Food supplements can be used to boost a healthy diet but should not be used as a replacement for a healthy, balanced diet. A pre natal multivitamin with iron, calcium, antioxidant nutrients (A, C, E, selenium and zinc), probiotics, fish oils and others may be used to heighten fertility and support a healthy pregnancy.

The British Fertility Society and Dr. Abha Maheshwari from the University of Aberdeen suggested that a person with a BMI over 35 should not go through IVF treatment, and women with a BMI over 30 should put off treatment until they have lost weight. Dr. Arthur Leader, co-founder of the Ottawa Fertility Centre, commented that based on his case study, extremely overweight women are 3 times more prone to have infertility problems. These women are 3 times more inclined to have an IVF technique failure, and have a greater risk of pregnancy-related complications such as pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and cesarean delivery. Overweight women take more time to conceive using IVF procedure, and at the same time, suffer more miscarriages. A study conducted by Jim Wang from University of Adelaide has established a positive relationship between Body Mass Index and the uncertainty of spontaneous abortion in women who became pregnant after IVF treatment. Obesity is associated with an increased possibility of early pregnancy loss occurring before 6 weeks of pregnancy.

According to most studies, women who have childhood obesity are facing a greater risk of amenorrhea, a condition in which menstrual cycles are absent. Women who are overweight are less likely to respond to fertility drugs, because excess weight interferes with the proper absorption of different types of drugs used in infertility treatment due to insulin excess and insulin resistance. Obese ladies have poorer response to ovarian stimulation as the hyperinsulinaemia may result in altered follicular maturation that affects the eggs being harvested for IVF treatment.

Studies also showed that a higher proportion of women in the overweight and obese groups had a miscarriage and needed higher doses of drugs to stimulate their ovaries during their IVF treatment. Professor Adam Balen, from Leeds Teaching Hospitals confirmed that obesity has a powerful effect on fertility. Balen also recognized that the risk of complications such as miscarriage and maternal or fetal death are more readily associated with obesity. Children born to obese women through IVF are more likely to have genetic defects. A healthy lifestyle is important to boost your chances of a successful IVF treatment, so observe a balance diet and exercise regularly. Eating a balanced diet will help to ensure that your body is healthy enough to conceive and nourish a developing fetus. Thus, a healthy lifestyle influences the success rate of IVF treatment.

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Make IVF Work for You

Smoking is speculated to cause sub-fertility in women whereby fecundability is reported to decrease if either of the parents smokes more than 10 cigarettes a day. Women are prone to experience tubal changes, cervical anomalies, damaged gametes, increase spontaneous abortions and ectopic pregnancies. Consistent research outcomes have proven that the ovarian pool of oocytes have either diminished in number or aged prematurely. Cigarettes contain carcinogens, formaldehyde, benzene, pesticides, TSNAs and not to mention hundreds of other poisonous chemicals.

All these harmful chemicals contribute to abruption, premature birth, underweight babies, foetal retardation, leukaemia or even fatal deaths. That said; patients refraining from smoking can heighten their chances of successful fertilisation and implantation; leading to a healthy pregnancy which guarantees the survival of the mother and foetus.

A lot has been said about the correlation of alcohol to the success rates of IVF treatment. It is sound that patients limit their intake to no more than 2 glasses per day or terminate alcohol consumption entirely. Alcoholism brings about foetal alcohol syndrome which is distinguished by growth deficiency, mental retardation, behavioural abnormalities and an atypical heart-shaped facial appearance of the foetus.

Believed to be affecting the new-borns of alcoholic mothers, those who seek to prevent these conditions should stay away from consuming alcohol completely while undergoing IVF. As healthy sperms are needed to boost IVF success rates, alcohol is a taboo among the men because it decreases sperm generating cells in the testicles, affects testicular size and changes the morphology of normal sperms. There has been news that a heavy drinker may suffer from erectile dysfunction; losing his ability to have sexual relations.

Caffeine intakes have reportedly raise and shrivelled fertility rates. In one study, consumption more than an average of two cups a day (200mg) has lowered the chances of conception by 27 per cent. However a different study has proven women who ingest 400 to 700mg of caffeine per day had their rates of conception raised.

Based on all evidence presented to the Organisation of Teratology Information Services (2001), it was concluded that individuals with caffeine consumption of lower than 200mg per day are not adversely affected; however reducing caffeine intake for those undergoing assisted conception techniques such as IVF is vital to boost success rates. It was theorised that the stimulant affects ovulation by altering hormonal levels which deters conception.

Stress levels should also be kept at low levels with the help of meditation techniques such as yoga. A healthy diet is also essential for a healthy reproductive system. It is to be reminded that individuals should not aim at reducing body weight but preserve an ideal body mass; a balance of all the classes of food. Regular exercise should be made a must not only to enrich fertility treatments but to heighten general health as well.

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Maximise Your Chances with Antioxidants

Infertility complications impact the rate of success for couples who are trying to start a family. Drawbacks with the quality of sperms; amount, morphology and motility, are among the main causes of infertility in men. Seminal oxidative stress (OS) remains a factor for infertility in men; reactive oxygen species (ROS) is crucial for normal physiological functions of the sperm. However, when the found in abundance, it results in oxidative stress; causing a drop in sperm mobility, viability, and increased mid-piece sperm defects. (American Study for Reproductive Medicine, 2000).

Antioxidants are substances that protect the body against the harmful effects of free radicals. Antioxidants include Vitamins A, C and E alongside beta carotene, lutein, lycopene and selenium. Poultry, vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains are the natural sources of antioxidants. However consumers may also go for supplements to complement their daily diet for a wholesome supply of antioxidants.

Polyunsaturated fatty acid is found aplenty in human spermatozoa and therefore is more prone the detrimental effects of the ROS. A number of naturally occurring antioxidant system scavenges ROS and avoids internal cellular damage. The American Study for Reproductive Medicine managed to prove the significance of oxidative stress in male infertility; high levels of ROS and low total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in infertile men. Lead researcher Marian Showell of the University of Auckland propose couples undergoing assisted conception techniques such as IVF and ICSI; to consider having the men take in oral antioxidant supplements to increase their partner’s chance of conception.

Antioxidants work on the theory of free radicals; radicals cause wreckful alterations of DNA in sperms which interrupts its normal function. The production of sperms and eggs generate a great deal of oxidative energy, resulting in intensified levels of reactive oxygen species. In such situations, the human body uses a number of antioxidant defence systems consisting of vitamins A, C, E, coenzyme Q10, glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase. (Dr. I.V van Heerden, 2007) Semen contains naturally occurring antioxidants but they dwindle due to lifestyle factors, infection and disease. It would seem obvious and prudent to invest in supplements but some fertility doctors?advice otherwise.

Dr. Sherman Silber, the director of the Infertility Centre of St. Louis said that antioxidants will not help but delay as the wife’s eggs get older. Therefore this process will hurt rather than help by delaying IVF for a male treatment that does not produce results. Some doctors find the results of researches questionable; some trials had as few as 10 participants.

It is unwise to depend solely on supplements when the proper dosage and amount is yet to be determined; excessive vitamin A intake is known to be detrimental to babies. It is however recommended to obtain antioxidants through fruits and vegetables; cranberries, blackberries, beans, avocado, citrus fruits and artichokes; to name a few.

Considering the fact that there is no universal treatment for infertility, and the lack of evidence to discredit the contributions of antioxidant treatment, couples should advance with care when undergoing any form of therapy. Men who decide that antioxidants may help them during the course of assisted conception, should always make appointments with their doctors and only proceed when given the green light.

IVF treatment is well-known worldwide for its effective technique in getting pregnant. Check out how IVF works in 3D animation video. More useful information such as IVF and lifestyle can help you to better understanding what causes infertility.