Weight warning for pregnancy

Women hoping to conceive should achieve a healthy weight as obesity has a major effect on fertility, the British Fertility Society (BFS) has advised.

The society has issued new guidelines for women who have had difficulties trying to become pregnant following a review of the evidence about the interaction between obesity and female reproduction.

In its guidelines for women the RCP warns that obesity decreases the chances of natural conception and increases the risk of miscarriage and pregnancy complications.

It recommends that clinicians should consider holding off fertility treatment for women whose weight does not fall within healthy guidelines.

Tony Rutherford, chair of the BFS’ police and practice committee, said: “The BFS wants to ensure that all women receive the safest treatment when undergoing fertility procedures, while also maximising their chances that the treatment will be successful.”

Infertility Network UK welcomed the new guidelines and said women should be given help to achieve a healthy weight to increase their chances of conceiving.

“It should be remembered that there are conditions affecting your fertility which also have an impact on your weight plus women are under a great deal of stress when battling with infertility,” said Clare Brown, Infertility Network UK chief executive.