It's Worth Talking To Your OBGYN About Your Weight
If you're overweight — especially if you want to lose weight but have been struggling to do so — your list of professionals to talk to might include your primary care doctor, a dietitian, and a personal trainer. All of these professionals can certainly help you along your weight loss journey. However, there is another professional you should also consult: your OBGYN. This might sound strange at first, but keep reading. You'll learn why consulting your OBGYN about your weight is so important, and the ways in which they may be able to help.
Why is consulting your OBGYN about your weight so important?
There are two primary reasons why you should bring up your weight-related challenges to your OBGYN.
1. Your weight may be caused by an issue with your ovaries.
Your ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone. While these are best known as the female hormones that help regulate your reproductive cycle, they do also impact your other body systems. An excess of estrogen can cause you to put on more body fat or make it harder for you to lose body fat. And sometimes, an excess of estrogen is caused by cysts on the ovaries. If you're overweight and struggling to lose weight, it's a good idea for your OBGYN to check you for this and similar ailments.
2. Your weight may be causing problems for your reproductive system.
Being overweight can also have a negative impact on your reproductive system. An excess of fat can impact the amount of estrogen and progesterone your body produces, which can lead to uterine fibroids and other growths. Especially if you have been overweight for a while, it is a good idea to have your OBGYN check you for these conditions.
What can an OBGYN do to help you lose weight?
In addition to checking for conditions that may be causing your weight gain or may be caused by your weight gain, your OBGYN may be able to prescribe certain medications to help you lose weight. They may recommend, for example, that you take a low dose of a hormone blocker to correct high estrogen levels. Or, they may prescribe you some progesterone to balance out your hormone levels. Not only can these medications improve your reproductive health, but they can help you lose weight as well.
While your OBGYN may initially seem like an odd person to talk about weight loss, they could turn out to be your greatest resource in the end. For more information about weight management, consult your doctor.
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