Being overweight and trying to get pregnant- Please Help

Hi, I am 22 yrs old. and overweight I haven't had a period in about a year. Now I have gone to the doctors, obgyn, and  they have ran several test. Normally ending in them prescribing Provera a hormone to start your periods. They work and I have a period but then nothing after that. I have seen 3 doctors and none of them seem concerned, yet I still am not getting a period. My husband and I would like to have a child, but with me not getting a period I am not sure if that will happen, we have been trying with the hopes that I am still ovulating for the last 6 months. I am starting to think that A. I have a serious problem or  B. me being over weight is causing me to not have a period  I am trying to eat healthier and working out, but still nothing. My next step is to go to a fertility clinic and see what they think but before I do that I wanted to see if anyone has had the same problems or any advise on what I should do. Thanks for your time - Lindsay

Hi lyanock,

I'm afraid I am not a doctor so cannot help in that respect. Have you asked the doctor regarding your weight? I know a few people that have had period problems being overweight.

Perhaps their lack of concern is also due to your youngish age, not fair!

I would be finding yet another doctor and ask for some straight answers.

lotsa love

x

Hi there.  You didn't indicate how overweight you were? 

My girlfriend was overweight and got pregnant, with her sixth child.  Yes, I said sixth.  I just saw her yesterday and she is doing very well.  She was 5'9 and 200 lbs.  she has only gained 1lb for this pregnancy and she is presently due mid november.  She is being seen by an ob/gyn a woman, who everyone loves and respects. 

I have known many women very overweight who have had children.  My sil had 5 kids and she is 5'7 and weighs 220 not pregnant, I could give you lots of examples.  I don't know about risks or anything so I can't help you there, I would imagine that being really heavy may be harder on joints, bp, etc. but I don't know.  My old neigbour was about 5'5 and probably weighed 230. 

Good luck to you.

I am about 5'3" and weight about 180 lbs, so I guess pretty overweight.

Hi there,

Well, I'm really of no help either... I don't know anything about missed periods... I did want to say though, it's really great that you are starting to eat healthier, and work out.  I think that being healthier would probably help your chances of trying to get pregnant.  Anyhow.  I frequently visit a parenting/baby site.  They have a really good "preconception" forum you might want to check out.  Probably have other women in similar situatuons that you could talk to.  It's babyfit.com .  I also second what cailea said... I would be looking for a different Doctor.  Get a second opinion and try to get some answers!

Best of luck!

Have your doctors done a true assessment as to whether you might have PCOS?

It's a very common disorder especially in overweight women and even is common in women of normal weight (1 in 10 women overall!). It is often asymptomatic except for absence of periods (though when the period does come it can be very painful and heavy). And should this be what you have the sooner it gets diagnosed the better. Often times they will put you on glucophage or somesuch. If they say "no, you don't have it" but don't give you other explanations for why you are not getting your periods, get second opinions, go see an endorcrinologist. It's a potential fertility issue you would want to have addressed ASAP.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycystic_ovary _syndrome

At 22 I was slightly overweight, but I didn't miss periods per se - I had very very irregular ones, with extensive time in beween, anywhere from 45-65 days.  I lost count of the times I thought I might be pregnant but really wasn't.  It turns out that it was due to a hormone imbalance, specifically, not enough progesterone.  My doctor treated it with low level hormone therapy and careful monitoring.  Amazingly enough, after I had my first baby, my cycle now comes and goes like clockwork.

You might want to check with your doctor and ask about a blood work-up to determine hormone levels  (an imbalance can be a big issue with conception).

Good luck!

hi,

i can relate to you 100%. i am 23 years old, overweight (about 270) and also trying to get pregnant. I went to the doctor for the same reason as you, i have more than 3 years that i do not get a period. before i got married i was very active and in the gym, when i was working out i never missed a period. but once i got married i stopped going to the gym and began to miss my periods. It came to a point that i was not getting any periods for months. that made me go to the doctor. which he also got me started on provera....(same thing as you happend).

good news....

I recently went to mexico....and walked...and walked....and climbed the piramids...and walked some more.....two days after all this walking...guess what!!! i got my period....OMG!!! I could not believe this...i didnt know how to re-act....my husband was amazed....this lead me to believe that being overweight is a MAYOR factor on fertility....thats why i joined the gym and began doing exercise......this month was my first period after joining the gym THREE WEEKS AGO!!!!

i know how you feel...trust me!!! go see a doctor ask him/her if this can pertain to you, but regardless of what they might say still do some exercise, eat healthy.....and you will see!!!!

 

There is hope... I always had a fairly irregular cycle and according to the doctors I was ovulating erratically if ever. I had all the symptoms of PCOS except that I didn't have the cysts. BUT just a few months after I started my diet and exercise campaign I got my period and ever since then my body has kept itself to a totally normal cycle with no artificial intervention at all. You are still very young, and you have plenty of time to change your lifestyle and get healthier.

I don't think being 180lbs is sufficient reason for you not to have periods and there's almost certainly another cause at play.  I agree with the person that suggested you be checked for PCOS because that's a very common condition which can make periods irregular.  There could be other reasons, of course.

I would suggest that you check out 'Low GI Diets' if you have time.   It's a way of eating healthily by choosing foods that keep blood-sugars stable and insulin production low.   It's being used quite widely to treat some of the symptoms of PCOS e.g. insulin resistance, weight-gain, excess body-hair, menstruation problems.  Even if it turns out you don't have PCOS, a Low GI diet is very good for your overall health and can make weight-loss a little easier.   Keep doing exercise as this will help you control your weight.   Best of luck

I have been overweight my entire life and i did get pregnant on my own when i was young but i miscarried my first baby.  But i was thinner then too.  I went for about 2 years with little or NO periods on my own and using NO birth control whatsoever and decided this is not normal i was wanting a baby but couldnt conceive.  I finally went to a REPRODUCTIVE endocrinologist they can do more extensive testing to see exactly why i couldnt conceive.  I had some imbalance of my hormones and i had cysts all over my ovaries so i was diagnosed with having PCOS.  The doctor prescribed clomid and i was on it for 3 cycles before i got pregnant in 1995 and delivered a healthy baby boy in 1996.  Then almost 4 years later i went again for fertility help and clomid didnt work that time i had to do injectible fertility meds and did one cycle of gonal f and IUI and i conceived my daughter.  I had her in 2000.  Then i decided i was ready for another child in 2003 got pregnant again on the gonal f and iui first cycle!  Then miscarried that baby.  Then after i joined weight watchers (was on glucophage also for my PCOS)  and i started losing weight and then bam! i had a period on my own in April of 2007 (which i NEVER did have one without induction of one)  then i coudlnt understand i wasnt losing the weight like i should be folllowing the diet closely and not losing much but i was exercising alot and i think i had lost only like 15 pounds and found out i was pregnant last June!! (yep on my own!!) had my son in Januaryof this year.  So YES even having fertility problems you can have children.  But pregnancy is much easier on you if you lose weight before becoming pregnant.  I had issues with my blood pressure while pregnant.  I only have blood pressure problems when im pregnant.  Has your partner been tested also?? It could  be something simple as him shooting blanks.  Good luck!!

Clarice

I have been overweight my entire life and i did get pregnant on my own when i was young but i miscarried my first baby.  But i was thinner then too.  I went for about 2 years with little or NO periods on my own and using NO birth control whatsoever and decided this is not normal i was wanting a baby but couldnt conceive.  I finally went to a REPRODUCTIVE endocrinologist they can do more extensive testing to see exactly why i couldnt conceive.  I had some imbalance of my hormones and i had cysts all over my ovaries so i was diagnosed with having PCOS.  The doctor prescribed clomid and i was on it for 3 cycles before i got pregnant in 1995 and delivered a healthy baby boy in 1996.  Then almost 4 years later i went again for fertility help and clomid didnt work that time i had to do injectible fertility meds and did one cycle of gonal f and IUI and i conceived my daughter.  I had her in 2000.  Then i decided i was ready for another child in 2003 got pregnant again on the gonal f and iui first cycle!  Then miscarried that baby.  Then after i joined weight watchers (was on glucophage also for my PCOS)  and i started losing weight and then bam! i had a period on my own in April of 2007 (which i NEVER did have one without induction of one)  then i coudlnt understand i wasnt losing the weight like i should be folllowing the diet closely and not losing much but i was exercising alot and i think i had lost only like 15 pounds and found out i was pregnant last June!! (yep on my own!!) had my son in Januaryof this year.  So YES even having fertility problems you can have children.  But pregnancy is much easier on you if you lose weight before becoming pregnant.  I had issues with my blood pressure while pregnant.  I only have blood pressure problems when im pregnant.  Has your partner been tested also?? It could  be something simple as him shooting blanks.  Good luck!!

Clarice

Hi, just read your message and don't know if you've tried this. But I have been trying to help my sister who is overweight and trying to get pregnant. She had problems with periods. I told her to try Angus Castus and Dong Quai which you can get from a company called Higher Nature on the net.

This helps to regulate hormones naturally and get periods starting. Then once this happens i would suggest you get an ovulation kit and start testing yourself to see if this has cured the problem. My sister started taking the tablets and she has had 2 normal periods in the last two months and will now start checking her ovulation.

 

Good luck.

 

I am an obese woman.  I had horrible periods with no regularity.  I have two children.  Each time before I got pregnant I lost 20 pounds in 6 weeks.  The doctor told me that loosing 20 pounds via eating healthy and exercising 5 hours a week that I would raise my estrogen level.  WaLa! It worked twice.  I had my first child at 31.  The day of delivery I weighed 323 pounds.  I pushed about 20 times.  My second child when I was 34.  I weighed 299.  Didn't push, held my breath.  I wish you well.