As the obesity rate in America continues to climb, so does the rate of obesity among pregnant women and those hoping to conceive. While excess pounds are not necessarily a roadblock to conception and a healthy pregnancy and delivery, no one knows exactly how many pregnancies are complicated by obesity. Guidelines from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommend frank weight discussions even before a woman conceives, so it would seem that along with average weights, concern is on the rise. Should you be concerned?

Some obese women have trouble conceiving. When this happens, some of those women blame their weight, but the root of their infertility may actually be causing them to pack on the pounds. Dr. Anne Borkowski, a Chicago-area fertility specialist, says obese women who have trouble getting pregnant frequently suffer from the hormonal imbalance polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a condition that causes the ovaries to secrete androgens. Among other effects, the androgens cause abnormal ovulation and make it difficult to lose weight. Women with PCOS who do manage to conceive also face a greater risk of miscarriage. In such cases, pregnancy loss is due to low levels of progesterone and not the additional pounds these women carry.

"Obesity itself doesn't make it more difficult to get pregnant," Dr. Borkowski says. "Realistically, the chance of getting pregnant is not any lower in obese or overweight women."

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.