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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Can i try to conceive while losing weight?

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    Trying To Conceive Weight Management Women's Health
    We have been trying to have a baby for 13 months now and nothing has happened. I am currently 68kgs and my hight is 168cm. I would like to lose 6 or 7 kgs to see if that helps but am worried this would prolong it?
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    • Dr Carolyn Ee
    • Melissa Yip
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    Dr Carolyn Ee

    Acupuncturist, GP (General Practitioner)

    I'm a Sydney GP with a special interest in women's health especially menopause and TTC ( trying to conceive). I specialise in acupuncture, and am … View Profile

    Your BMI is 24 which is a healthy weight and within the recommend BMI range for conceiving (22-24). It is unlikely that it is your weight that is the issue. There are many factors affecting the fertility of couples - including timing of intercourse, factors due to the female and factors due to the male. However, on average most couples will conceive within a year of unprotected sexual intercourse. I would recommend you seeing your GP to have a full history and examination taken and some basic investigations. If you are in your thirties it is a good idea to do this immediately as maternal age is one of the major factors affecting fertility, especially in your late thirties. Good luck :)

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    Melissa Yip

    Dietitian, Nutritionist

    Experienced accredited practicing dietitian (APD) with more than 10 years of practice. Happy to help with nutrition issues and chronic disease management. Lover of delicious … View Profile

    Good nutrition is important if you're planning to have a baby. If your weight loss plans involve cutting out major food groups like breads and cereals (which are usually fortified with folic acid!) then this may impact on your body's nutrient stores, which can then potentially affect your baby if and when you do conceive.

    It's probably worth mentioning that good nutrition is important for both women AND men when it comes to planning a pregnancy; poor nutrition in men can affect male fertility as well. Both yourself and your partner may like to consider seeing an Accredited Practicing Dietitian to see if your diets can be tweaked to improve fertlity and prep your body nutritionally for a baby.

    Speak to your GP as they investigate other issues which could be impacting fertility. In the meantime, I would suggest taking a daily folic acid supplement (or a pregnancy multivitamin) if you haven't already started is this helps prevent neural tube defects in babies.

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