In this article:
1. Irregular or Missing Periods
Irregular menstrual cycles are one of the common signs of being underweight. Your periods can be missed, delayed, or abnormally light. In other instances, they can cease completely, an event referred to as amenorrhoea.What you can do: Monitor your cycles and discuss potential causes with your doctor. They can test your hormone levels to determine whether your body is prepared for pregnancy.
2. Low Body Mass Index (BMI)
BMI is a height-to-weight ratio used to measure the body's fat content. If your BMI is lower than 18.5, you might be underweight. Underweight women have problems with fertility because, at times, the body lacks sufficient energy reserves to sustain a pregnancy.Although your menstrual periods may be regular, being underweight still compromises your conception and ability to carry a pregnancy to term.
What you can do: Consult a medical professional or nutritionist. Emphasise nutrient-dense foods and a structured weight-gain plan.
3. Excessive Fatigue or Low Energy
When you are constantly fatigued or weak, your body might be in desperate need of energy, which should be supplied to it. Being underweight might lower your overall stamina and influence the organ functions, including the reproductive system.Persistent low energy may indicate that your body is concentrating on survival rather than reproduction, which makes conception harder.
What you can do: Ensure that you are getting sufficient calories and healthy fats, proteins, and complex carbohydrates in your diet. Moderate, regular exercise can also assist in the enhancement of strength without making an individual deficient in energy.
4. Hair Thinning or Hair Loss
Hair health is often an early indicator of your body’s nutritional status. When your hair is thinning or falling out too often, or too slowly, then it is possible that your body is not utilising all the nutrients it needs.Poor nutrition and low body fat may disrupt hormone production, especially oestrogen, which is crucial in ensuring an individual's fertility.
What you can do: Get enough protein, iron, Zinc, and vital vitamins in the diet. Depending on the results of your doctor's examination, supplements may be recommended.
5. Mood Changes and Irritability
Being underweight can lead to hormonal imbalances that may have further implications for your mental health. In case you experience mood changes, anxiety, or high irritability, it could be connected with low estrogen or other hormones of the reproductive system.The mood change is not merely emotional, but is an indication that your body might not be prepared to carry the pregnancy.
What you can do: Proper dieting, proper sleep, and stress-relieving exercises such as yoga or actually meditating can help restore your mood as well as hormone balance.
6. Difficulty Gaining Weight
When you are unable to gain weight despite eating well-cooked food, it may be due to a high metabolic rate or a medical illness. A relatively small amount of body fat may impact the functioning of your ovaries, inhibiting normal ovulation and fertility.What you can do: A physician may examine thyroid dysfunctions or other diseases that may disrupt the increase in weight. As a registered dietitian, he/she can assist you in developing a strategy for gaining weight in a gradual but healthy manner.
7. Cold Hands and Feet or Feeling Chilly Often
Feeling cold all the time, even in warm environments, can be a sign that your body is undernourished or has low fat stores.What you can do: Pay attention to foodstuffs rich in calories and minerals and nutrients, such as healthy oils, avocados, nuts, and olive oil.
8. Weak Immune System
When you are underweight, you become prone to diseases. Your body may not be getting sufficient nutrition to support all necessary activities, including reproduction, explaining why you contract infections with great regularity or take forever to heal.When your body lacks certain nutrients, it may focus on keeping you healthy first, which can make getting pregnant a bit more challenging.
What you can do: Diets rich in minerals and vitamin C, along with adequate sleep and moderate exercise, can improve your immunity and provide a conducive environment during conception.
Being underweight may affect your fertility in a variety of ways, such as irregular cycles and hormonal disruption, low energy, and weaker immunity. On the bright side, making a few small, stepwise adjustments to your lifestyle and diet can greatly help.
When applied to health, prioritising the intake of high-nutrient products, maintaining a healthy weight, and undergoing regular checkups can increase your chances of losing weight, which in turn will enhance your chances of having a child. To sustain ovulation, a normal pregnancy, and your general well-being, your body requires the optimal amount of such energy, nutrients, and fat storage.
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FAQs on Signs You May Be Too Underweight to Conceive
- How much weight should I gain to improve fertility?
The optimal quantity taken varies from person to person. A nutritionist or a health professional can help you determine your healthy weight objective based on your BMI and overall well-being. - Can being slightly underweight still affect ovulation?
Yes. Mild underweight may cause fluctuations in hormone levels, leading to unexpected ovulation or absent ovulation. The challenge of attaining a healthy weight can enhance your opportunity of conception. - Are there medical conditions that can cause difficulty gaining weight and affect fertility?
Yes. One can develop conditions that can influence weight and fertility, such as hyperthyroidism, eating disorders, and malabsorption disorders. If you are having difficulty gaining weight, it is recommended that you consult a doctor.