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Wednesday, 6
September
2017 | ArabMedicare.com | Staff Reporter
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Prof. Dr. Human Fatemi,
Subspecialist Reproductive
Medicine & Reproductive Surgery,
Medical Director, IVI Middle
East Fertility Clinic
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Medical
experts define obesity and
sedentary lifestyles as the
major causes of infertility
(Abu Dhabi) -
With changing lifestyles and
increasing stress levels,
obesity - caused by poor
diet and a sedentary
lifestyle has emerged as one
of the major cause for
higher infertility rates in
the region than the west.
Trying to start families
later in life, Vitamin D
deficiency, consanguinity,
diabetes and smoking are
also other important causes
that affect a couple’s child
bearing capacity.
"It is estimated that
infertility affects 15 per
cent of the global
population of reproductive
age, but this percentage is
even higher in the GCC,"
said
Dr Laura Vidales, IVF
Specialist at IVI Middle
East Fertility Clinic in Abu
Dhabi, UAE.
It is therefore no surprise
that there is an high
prevalence of obesity
particularly in the GCC
including Bahrain, Kuwait,
UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia,
which has witnessed rapid
regional economic
advancement resulting in
increased food access,
consumption, and lifestyle
changes, family history,
urbanisation and
high-calorie diets.
"Staring at a computer
screen while drinking
countless cups of coffee and
eating junk food has become
the way of life for most of
us. The result is weight
gain - which eventually
leads to obesity. Obesity
directly affects your
fertility. It causes
hormonal imbalances and
problems with ovulation in
women, thus affecting their
ability to conceive. In
addition, obesity is
associated with infertility
in men as well, resulting in
decreased libido, erectile
dysfunction and poor semen
quality," said Prof. Dr.
Human Fatemi, Subspecialist
Reproductive Medicine &
Reproductive Surgery,
Medical Director, IVI Middle
East Fertility Clinic.
"In today’s fast-paced
world, infertility is
globally acknowledged to be
a major health problem, but
its causes are specific. I
believe that if you address
the root cause, your chances
of treating the problem
successfully are much
higher," added Prof. Dr.
Human Fatemi.
IVI Middle East Fertility
Clinic is part of a global
institution for infertility
treatments with over 70
clinics and 160,000 babies
born worldwide. The clinic
not just helps couples
overcome infertility in the
geographies it operates in,
it is also responsible for
furthering and advancing the
science with innovative
ground breaking research and
treatments which the world
follows.
Recently, the clinic
collaborated with Aristotle
University of Thessaloniki,
Greece on a study of
fertility in the Gulf, which
was published in the
international journal
titled Fertility and
Sterility.
The study not only brought
to light the region specific
causes of infertility, but
also highlighted how
obesity, vitamin D and
marriage within the family,
affects fertility rates. To
add to it, the study also
highlighted that hormonal
abnormalities and ovulation
dysfunction were associated
with obesity.
"Our lifestyle has changed
completely in this part of
the world in the past
30 to 40 years. Fifty years
ago, there was no air
conditioning and now people
are inside all the time,"
said Dr Laura on why obesity
is increasing at such an
alarming rate in the Middle
East. She also informed how
body mass index (BMI)
impacts an individual’s
fertility rate.
"Obesity is determined by
the BMI (Body Mass Index)
level of a person, which is
calculated as an average
ratio of one's height and
weight. If one’s body mass
index (BMI) is higher than
29, the receptivity of the
uterus declines, as well as
the chromosomal formation of
the eggs decline too," added
Dr Laura Vidales.
An elevated BMI can cause
hormonal abnormalities,
ovulation dysfunction,
menstrual irregularities,
anovulation and low
conception rates. Also
overweight women have an
increased chance of a
cesarean section for
delivery. In men, obesity is
associated with low
testosterone levels. In
severely obese man, reduced
sperm production
(spermatogenesis) related
with severe
hypotestosteronemia (Low
abnormal concentration of
testosterone) may favor
infertility. Moreover, the
occurrence of erectile
dysfunction increases with
increasing BMI.
It has been noted that
overweight women undergoing
IVF treatment are
significantly more likely to
respond inadequately to
controlled ovarian hyper
stimulation (COH) and fail
in achieving pregnancy
compared with non-obese
women. Increased BMI is also
associated with a greater
need for fertility hormones
such as gonadotropins, lower
pregnancy rates (PRs), fewer
eggs, and higher miscarriage
rates amongst women
undergoing assisted
reproductive technique
(ART). A reduction in
endometrial (uterine lining)
quality represents a further
outcome which can compound
the effect of obesity on
fertility.
"It is important to control
obesity at the right time.
The foremost treatments for
obesity and weight-loss are
regular exercise and a
balanced-diet. These help
restore ovulatory function
and reduce the rate of
miscarriage in obese women
who face infertility
problems. A
multidisciplinary approach
to weight management is
important. This includes the
initial assessment of
infertility and BMI,
emphasis on the importance
of lifestyle change,
education about proper diet,
exercise and behaviour
modification. A more
holistic approach to obesity
and reproductive health may
help," concluded Dr Laura
Vidales, IVF Specialist at
IVI Abu Dhabi.
It is noted that if a person
can attain a decent BMI
level within six months of
following a healthy
lifestyle with a balanced
diet and regular exercise,
the chances to bear a child
increases. While preventing
obesity, especially among
those with a family history,
is not easy, it is certainly
important to make health a
priority.
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