Causes of Female Infertility
The leading cause of female infertility is the failure to ovulate, which may be influenced by the diet, hormonal imbalances, and a variety of other factors. Women who are very thin or markedly overweight often do not ovulate because the amount of body fat is closely associated with estrogen levels, Women who have very little body fat— professional athletes, dancers, models, and chronic dieters— often stop menstruating and ovulating. Women who are obese may have abnormally elevated levels of estrogen, which can also result in a failure to ovulate. Conception and weight. Any woman who is considering becoming pregnant should try to achieve her ideal weight before conception. This should be done by eating a balanced diet; a woman who is underweight when she conceives is likely to have such problems as anemia during pregnancy. The baby may be smaller than normal and is mote at risk for health problems. Conversely, dieting during pregnancy could be dangerous to the fetus. An overweight woman should diet before trying to conceive; this also lowers her risk of developing high blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy.
