Weight and Fertility: Optimizing Heath NOT Restriction and Shame with Dr. Stephanie Fein

Written By Lora Shahine, MD

Weight loss for fertility is controversial and complicated, and to be perfectly honest, more research is needed to fully understand the link between body weight and fertility. Whatever studies find, weight loss for fertility should never involve shaming or guilt.

In this episode, Dr. Shahine talks weight and fertility with Stephanie Fein, MD. Dr. Fein started in social psychology, then moved to Internal Medicine, where she completed a residency program. She then went on to obtain a Masters in Public Health. 

All of these skills came together when Dr. Fein was moonlighting at a weight-loss clinic while doing her residency; a conference on weight and fertility solidified her decision to move into helping people optimize their fertility with weight loss.

What does the research really show?

Perhaps most important to understand, no two bodies are the same, and many of the numbers and other information you’ll hear on the Internet (and maybe even from your doctor), won’t apply for all.

In this episode you’ll hear:

Time Stamps

00:00-03:18 Intro to the show and Dr. Stephanie Fein

03:19-07:27 Dr. Fein’s inspiration from medical doctor to Weight Loss for Fertility

07:28-16:43 Research on weight and fertility – Why BMI as a marker?

11:32-15:33 Obesity, reproductive health and Insulin, visceral fat, and hormones

15:34-16:43 PCOS and inflammation

16:44:19:15 Realistic weight loss expectations and sustainability 

19:16-26:27 Why people overeat – changing your relationship with food

26:28-30:13 Dr. Fein’s advice on how to talk to your doctor about weight 

Dr. Fein answers Questions from Instagram Community Follow @drlorashahie

30:20- Trish asks “How does gastric bypass impact fertility and pregnancy”

31:20- Sara asks “Can I use Ozempic or Wegovy while trying to conceive?”

38:14-Samantha asks “Is it ok to try to lose weight while trying to conceive?”

36:00-38:14 Summary and finding Dr. Stephanie Fein

If you want information about weight loss and possible impacts on fertility, you can find Dr. Fein on her website: stephaniefeinmd.com

Resources mentioned: 

Podcast ‘Weight Loss for Fertility with Dr. Stephanie Fein’: stephaniefeinmd.com/podcasts/weight-loss-for-fertility

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Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books  

Lora Shahine, MD

Dr. Lora Shahine, reproductive endocrinologist at Pacific NW Fertility and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Washington in Seattle, completed her residency in OBGYN at the University of California in San Francisco and fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at Stanford University. She is dedicated to educating and advocating for increased awareness of infertility, miscarriage, and the impact on environmental toxins on health through an active social media presence, teaching, clinical research, and authoring multiple blogs and books including best selling, ‘Not Broken: An Approachable Guide to Miscarriage and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss.’

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