Plus-Size Web Profile
In a society that has glorified and glamorized the skin-on-bone type of woman there are some cultures and numerous number of men around the globe who consider plus size women are healthy. Beauty, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder ...Read More Famous Plus-Size Models of Other Regions
This page gives information about plus size models from France, UK, Australia and specifically from India, one of the largest Asian country. But many of these Indian models however, do not know that they are known as plus size models...Read More Body Fat Measurements
A person's exact body fat percentage generally cannot be determined, but there are several techniques which can be used to estimate it: The skinfold estimation methods are based on a skinfold test, whereby a pinch of skin is precisely ...Read More Yoga and Fitness
It is important for fat people to approach exercise in an informed way. If a fat person is just beginning an exercise program, it is important to set realistic goals and to have realistic expectations. Often it takes time to build up the stamina to ...Read More Tara Logan Buckley - I think therefore I am
Those who are familiar with fashion and modeling world, Tara Logan Buckley is a well-known name for them. Tara won the title
of Britain's Next Top Plus Size Model in the year 2009. She was one among the 500 competitors and short-listed...Read More
Overweight and Fertility
In this page some frequently asked questions and answers are discussed about fertility issue and pregnancy complications
which come in mind of not only overweight or obese individuals but also general for every women of any shape and size.
Does extra weight alone compromise fertility?
No, one should not assume weight alone is a problem. It can be, but it is not a given. In fact, weight is probably only
a factor less than 10 percent of the time. The primary obstacle for overweight women is ovulation. If your physician
suggests all your problems will be solved simply by losing weight, seek a second opinion because even if your weight
is an issue, it is something medications can assist you.
What are the most common weight-related reasons for infertility?
The two most common problems are excess estrogen and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Along with both of these is a greater
chance of a luteal phase defect (LPD). Brief introductions of the above terms are as follows:
Estrogen: Fat cells produce estrogen (estrone - E1). The problem is that if you get too much estrogen your body
reacts as if it is on birth control. Ovulation may not occur or it may be inadequate. An inadequate ovulation contributes
to LPD, mentioned below.
PCOS: This is a endocrine disorder with any combination of several symptoms. These symptoms include irregular
cycles, cysts in the ovaries, ovulatory pain, anovulation, acne, excess body hair (face, chest, below navel, toes), heavy
and painful periods, as well as a high LH-FSH ratio (>3:1). Diagnosis involves both a physical exam, usually including an
ultrasound to check ovaries, and blood work.
Further study and help can be found at http://www.pcosupport.org
LPD: The luteal phase in the time between ovulation and cycle. The ideal length is 14 days, 12-16 being normal.
There are a number of ways to diagnose the problem, including serum progesterone tests 7 days post-ovulation, endometrial
biopsies, and the length of the luteal phase can be observed by charting basal body temperatures and/or being aware of
when ovulation occurred. LPD can be caused by inadequate ovulation, so improving the quality and perhaps quantity of
follicles produced will help straighten things out so that the lining is properly supported.
Does weight effect conception rates? What about body fat distribution?
There was a study published in the British Medical Journal that found that very lean women and very obese women
(BMI >38) had lower conception rates. However, body fat distribution was found to have a greater impact. Women with a
high waist-hip ratio had greater trouble conceiving - so being shaped like an apple is not as good for conception as being
shaped like a pear. PCO women may be more likely to have the apple shape.
Does the extra weight put me at risk for pregnancy complications?
Extra weight can be related two pregnancy problems: gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. Generally speaking, gestational
diabetes is very controllable. One thing that is very important to remember is that even though you may be at higher risk
for something, it doesn't mean you are at a high risk. It also doesn't mean that you are not entitled to have a baby.
There used to be some trouble is gauging the size of a baby being carried by a large woman, but with the use of
typical ultrasounds dating a pregnancy isn't as hard as it used to be.
Large women may be at higher risk of having babies with neural tube defects, but it still isn't a high risk. It is possible
that folic acid supplements will reduce the risks, though there are some studies that disagree with that.
Does the extra weight put me at greater risk of a miscarriage?
Excess weight does not contribute to miscarriage; however, PCOS, which is common in overweight women, does create a higher
statistical chance of pregnancy loss than in the general population. The reason is related to hormone imbalance. Both
elevated LH and testosterone are linked to miscarriage, as is insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia. There are treatments
available that help to minimize these risks.
What tests should I expect?
Ideally you should start out with a consultation, to discuss what tests should be done in what order.
An initial workup should include a consultation, physical exam, blood work, and an ultrasound.
The physical exam should includes checking your chest, lymph nodes, and pressing on your abdomen to feel ovaries and uterus.
The doctor should also look for visible signs of insulin resistance and PCOS including wasist:hip ratio, dark skin patches,
acne and excess facial/body hair. An internal exam should be done to check your cervix for signs of infection and to
better feel ovaries. A pap smear will be done if it's been over a year since you had one, and depending how things look,
cultures may be taken (treating some possibilities, like ureaplasma, may make sense in ovulatory as it is simple antibiotics
and treatment can enhance pregnancy rates. An ultrasound is a good idea - better fertility clinics have ultrasound equipment
and can check in office, but if they don't it is probably a good idea to either look elsewhere or have an ultrasound at
another facility. The scan should look for cysts, ovarian enlargement, fibroids, polyps and any abnormalities which may be
visble.
Usually the next step is blood work. Many OB/GYNs will do all the tests at once, while REs will do specific levels on
different days of the cycle. Generally all overweight women should be screen for PCOS. That bloodwork includes:
Fasting comprehensive biochemical and lipid panel
2-hour GTT with insulin levels (also called IGTT)
LH:FSH ratio
Total testosterone
DHEAS
SHBG
Androstenedione
Prolactin
TSH
After the hormone levels comes some of the more invasive tests. An endometrial biopsy happens toward the end of your cycle.
Some doctors do this in place of, or in addition to, blood progesterone levels. It's done by threading a small catheter
through the cervix and up into the uterus to take a sample of the endometrium. It's usually a few days before you get the
pathology report back.
Usually the next test is a hysterosalpingogram. Some people call this the dye test. Dye in injected through the cervix
while the uterus is being x-rayed - usually both as a video and as a few stills.
A hysteroscopy is done for some patients - where a scope is inserted through the cervix to view the inside of the uterus
- but more commonly patients have a laparosopy. This gives a view of the uterus, ovaries and tubes.
Can I take diet drugs while trying to get pregnant?
No. Diet drugs have not been fully tested in pregnancy, for one thing, but more importantly such dieting can lead to poor
nutrition. You want a healthy baby, so it is best to keep your system as drug free as possible. Some literature suggests
one should try to be drug free - including over the counter medications, for 3 months prior to seeking pregnancy.
