Weight, fertility and preconception assessment
Doctor explanation
Dr. Fowad answers a question about body weight, fertility and the value of an individual preconception assessment.
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Fertility care should be individualized
Obesity is associated with reduced fertility in some women and men, but most people with obesity are fertile. Body weight alone does not prove infertility or identify its cause.
An infertility or preconception assessment should be tailored to the person and couple. Thyroid testing is generally guided by symptoms or other clinical indications; a single short video is not a universal checklist for insulin-resistance or thyroid testing.
BMI is one screening measure, not a complete picture of health and not a universal threshold for access to fertility care. Decisions about weight, the timing of conception and fertility treatment should consider age, medical risks, preferences and readiness through shared decision-making.
This archived recording provides general information and does not replace an individual medical assessment.
Further reading: ASRM: obesity and reproduction · ACOG: prepregnancy counseling · NICE: fertility assessment.