Couples with obesity may take a longer period of time to achieve pregnancy. According to a new study couples with obesity may take 50 to 59 percent longer to conceive. Previous researches focused on the female body composition and fertility. But the findings disregard the factors that may include both partners.
The couples in the study were part of the Longitudinal Investigation of Fertility and the Environment Study. This study examines the relationship between fertility and exposure to environmental chemicals. The study enrolled 501 couples from Michigan and Texas from 2005 to 2009. Women kept journals to record their monthly menstrual cycles, intercourse and the results of home pregnancy tests. The couple is followed for one year of trying to conceive.
The researchers also calculated body mass index of every participant. Categorizing couples with obesity into two subgroups. Obese class one with BMI of 30 to 34.9. Obese class two with BMI 35 and above. The researchers compared the average time to conceive between the non- obese group with that of the class two obese group.
Researchers used statistic measure called the fecundability odds ratio to calculate the probability that a couple would achieve pregnancy. The researchers found that the class two obese group took so much longer to conceive than non-obese couples. They took 55 percent longer than their couple counterparts.
The researchers concluded that obesity within couples may reduce fertility chances. According to the Science Daily, specialists may want to take consider couples’ weight status into consideration when counseling them about conceiving. In addition to the benefits of a healthy weight, it can reduce the risk of having diabetes, heart disease and shorter time to conceive.
According to NBC, the Trust for America's Health projects that 44 percent of Americans will be obese by 2030. 42 percent of adults will be suffering from obesity, in 2030 according to the data projected of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study suggests that couple desiring to conceive must take consider their weight as one of the factors why it takes them longer time.
