THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OBESITY AND FEMALE FERTILITY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5517Keywords:
Obesity; Female Fertility; BMI; Infertility; Ovulation; Assisted ReproductionAbstract
Obesity has become a major global public health concern, with increasing prevalence among women of reproductive age. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between obesity and female fertility based on scientific evidence from studies indexed in the PubMed database. A literature review was conducted including peer-reviewed articles evaluating the impact of body mass index (BMI) on reproductive parameters such as menstrual regularity, ovulation, ovarian reserve, time to pregnancy, and outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The findings indicate that obesity negatively affects fertility through hormonal imbalance, insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and disruption of the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian axis. Obese women are more likely to experience ovulatory dysfunction, prolonged time to conception, and reduced effectiveness of ART procedures. Additionally, obesity is associated with poorer oocyte quality, lower implantation rates, and increased risk of miscarriage. Evidence suggests that moderate weight loss can significantly improve reproductive outcomes. In conclusion, obesity represents an important modifiable risk factor for female infertility, and appropriate lifestyle interventions may enhance fertility potential.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Alicja Sokołowska, Maria Golińska, Natalia Wasilewska, Marcin Masłowski, Piotr Dudziak, Łukasz Wabiszczewicz, Anna Nowak, Natalia Kita, Tomasz Woźniak, Tomasz Mróz, Zuzanna Filipiak
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