Can eating disorders affect your fertility?

By Reproclinic Editorial Committee
 
What impact do eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia have on fertility? Inadequate nutrition, either due to lack of nutrient intake or excess, can have important consequences on the functioning of your body, directly affecting your fertility. Keep reading!

What are eating disorders?

Alimentary behavior disorders include several diseases that are manifested through a certain behavior regarding the way we eat. Among its main symptoms are:

The distortion of the body self-image

• The fear of gaining weight
• Behaviors and values ​​linked to a certain body image.

 

According to Wikipedia, “a disorder of eating behavior is a disease caused by anxiety and by excessive concern about body weight and physical appearance, related to the alteration of common eating habits”

The two most well-known eating disorders are anorexia and bulimia, but they aren’t the only ones. Obsession with the body leads many women and men to extreme diets and even strenuous exercise routines. Vigorexia (behavior disorder that is characterized by the obsession of getting a muscular body) is a disorder that increases every year. Similarly, the prevalence of fatorexia (dysmorphophobia in which the affected, unlike in anorexia, has a distortion of its image with respect to its actual weight and is not aware of its overweight / obesity) is also increasing.

It is also important to emphasize that the same person may have several eating disorders; from fasting to excesses of food, the use of laxatives or other distorted behaviors.

Many times, these disordered diets tend to be linked to low self-esteem, frustrations, work or school stress, as well as unattainable social standards, such as stereotypes of current beauty.

Every eating disorder has health consequences. And hormonal disorders are not left behind.

 

How do eating disorders affect your reproductive health?

In general, eating disorders affect different aspects of metabolism such as weight or hormones but, individually, also greatly influences reproductive health. Numerous scientific studies have shown that food and fertility are closely linked and that poor nutrition can cause infertility.

Food has a great influence on fertility. Weight, both below normal and above, directly influences our hormones. In women, feeding influences the quality of the ovules and endometrium, as well as being the main source of nutrients during pregnancy. Also, there are studies that relate essential nutrients to the quality of sperm in men.

In addition to physical problems, who suffers from eating disorders, is often more prone to suffer stress, anxiety and depression. All these factors can hinder or prevent a successful pregnancy.

Among the main problems of fertility associated with eating disorders include:

• Amenorrhea.
• Irregular menstrual cycles.
• Low quality of the ovules.
• Miscarriages

 

ANOREXY

It is common for women suffering from anorexia to suffer from amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) and, therefore, can not ovulate on a regular basis. This can hinder or even prevent pregnancy.

In addition, women who suffer or have suffered anorexia and get pregnant, are subject to a number of risks during pregnancy such as:

• Increased likelihood of premature delivery
• Possibility that the baby is born with low weight
• Possible delays in the growth of the baby
• Increased risk of abortion
• Possible respiratory problems at birth
• Gestational diabetes

 

BULIMIA

Bulimia is another of the most frequent disorders. Those who suffer from it tend to overeat and vomit compulsively, and are also more prone to suffer high tension in pregnancy or preeclampsia. They also tend to have a greater predisposition to postpartum depression as well as have problems during breastfeeding.

 

What can I do?

Anyone who suffers or has suffered from eating disorders should seek psychological and medical help. The first step is to be aware that there is an eating disorder that affects your body negatively. The second step is to take actions to treat the disorders and to control their effects on the body. Following a healthy and balanced diet based on good eating habits is essential to boost your fertility to be able to get pregnant in the future.

 

Medical Director at Reproclinic
Specialist in Obstetrics/Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine