Can diet pills affect fertility?

Diet pills are a popular choice for some women who are thinking about becoming pregnant while maintaining physical activity during pregnancy, or for those planning to conceive. Consequently, they opt to combine their daily exercise routine with weight loss pills. How safe is it to take these medications? In this blog, we’ll explain everything you need to know.

Weight and fertility: what’s the connection?

Weight changes during pregnancy are one reason many women turn to weight loss pills. However, body weight has a direct impact on fertility, and excessive weight loss can be counterproductive. It may result in low levels of critical reproductive hormones, affecting ovulation, hormonal balance, and menstrual cycle regularity.

In women, excessive thinness can lead to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, a condition in which the hypothalamus—a brain gland—stops functioning, resulting in a lack of the sexual hormones necessary for pregnancy.

On the other hand, being overweight can lead to excessive estrogen production, making the body respond as though it were on contraceptives or already pregnant. Moreover, obesity increases the risk of developing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder that triggers the formation of fluid-filled ovarian cysts, leading to reproductive dysfunction.

For overweight women, controlled and moderate weight loss can improve reproductive health, as a healthy lifestyle positively affects overall health and reduces the risk of complications during pregnancy. Additionally, weight reduction in obese women can restore ovulatory cycles and enhance success rates in assisted reproduction treatments.

When can weight loss medication be used?

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), diet pills are recommended for individuals seeking to change their diet and eating habits, provided they meet one of the following criteria:

• BMI of 30 or higher.
• BMI of 27 or higher, with obesity-related conditions such as high blood pressure.
• Failure to lose 5% of body weight within the past three months despite adopting a healthy lifestyle.

It is crucial to follow your doctor’s guidance, as various additional factors can impact each person differently.

Nutritional tips to improve fertility

If you do not meet the requirements for taking weight loss pills, your body may need a balanced and healthy diet to help you achieve pregnancy success:

• Include foods that are nutritionally rich but low in fat, ensuring you get the optimal amounts of vitamins and minerals.
• Fats. Yes, they are essential for proper embryonic development and cell membrane metabolism.
• Balance. The best approach is to consume all food groups in moderation to avoid deficiencies in nutrients or vitamins.
• Minimize sugar and carbohydrates. The less you consume, the higher your chances of conceiving.
• Increase your intake of calcium, plant-based proteins, vitamins, and minerals.

Benefits of weight loss medication

Here are some reasons why weight loss pills might benefit fertility:

• Hormonal balance. Some medications help regulate hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, promoting moderate and balanced weight loss.
• Regular menstruation. Weight loss medications can help regulate menstrual cycles in overweight women.
• Metabolic improvement. These medications help maintain stable insulin levels, improving overall bodily functions. By controlling insulin, fertility-related hormones can also become more balanced.
• Increased fertility. Combining healthy food choices with short-term weight loss medication use may directly enhance fertility.

Risks of taking diet pills

Here are some potential risks associated with excessive use of weight loss medications:

• Decreased egg quality: Prolonged use of weight loss medications may reduce egg quality, making it harder to achieve a successful pregnancy.
• Increased risk of miscarriage: Combining weight loss pills with fertility treatments may sometimes reduce treatment efficacy.
• Thinning of the uterine lining.
• Mood changes, including irritability or depression.
• Gastrointestinal issues, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation.

At IVI, we can help you become a mother with the protocol that best suits your needs. We will start by evaluating your fertility and your partner’s, if you have one, to establish a diagnosis and create a personalized roadmap. Contact our international team by phone or leave your details in the form, and we will call you.