Healthy Weight Management Equals Better Reproductive Health
Healthy weight management is essential for a number of different reasons when it comes to women's health, including reproductive health. Obesity can cause many health concerns that have the potential to impact conception, pregnancy, and delivery. Ensure you are informed so that you can remain as healthy as possible.
Conception
Obesity can have direct implications regarding a woman's ability to get pregnant because the excess fat cells can impact your hormonal levels. Amongst a host of other bodily functions, proper hormone levels are necessary for a female to maintain stable menstrual and ovulation cycles.
Missed or irregular cycles can make it harder to track your conception status, and hormone-related issues can alter the egg production process in terms of ovulation. Both of these issues can make it harder to conceive. Fortunately, these issues are sometimes modifiable with weight loss alone, so seek healthcare assistance if you have struggles in this area.
Pregnancy
Excess weight can also be of concern during the pregnancy process. Take gestational diabetes, for example. Gestational diabetes is a condition that causes an excessive amount of sugar to circulate in the blood. High sugar levels in the blood during pregnancy can negatively impact the mother's health, but it can also have long-term implications for the unborn child.
While there are a number of reasons why a female might develop this condition, being overweight is a significant contributor. It is also worth noting that being at a healthier weight might allow you to be more active during pregnancy, which can help you minimize some of the effects of bodily pregnancy changes. Weight management can help avoid these risks and keep you more comfortable.
Delivery
Being at a healthy weight is also vital for the delivery process. Remember that pregnancy is not the time to begin a weight loss regimen. The goal is to reach a healthy weight before you start the process. Speak with your OBGYN during the planning phase to learn what management steps you can take.
For individuals who are overweight at the time of delivery, more prolonged labor is a possible outcome. Mothers in this category are also at an increased risk of requiring a cesarean delivery instead of a vaginal delivery. Cesarean deliveries often mean a longer recovery period for the mother.
If you want to start a family and have concerns about your weight, speak with your healthcare provider to learn more about the available weight management options.
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