Big hips (hourglass figure) could turn heads, and that is one of the reasons some women want them badly. But is there a relationship between waist-to-hip ratio and fertility?
While big hips could be an attention grabber, most men are not able to explain why they really love it.
Sometimes the best explanation they could give is that big hips make a woman look sexy.
But beyond being physically sexy, are there side effects to having this big hips, especially as it relates to reproduction?
Not many women take time to know if gunning for an hourglass waist is without health risks.
However, because of the desperation that some women show in pursuit of big hips, studies have emerged on the relationship between waist-to-hip ratio and fertility.
Women Vs Men Waist-To-Hip Ratio
Typically, body weight gain is the most noticeable change when puberty begins in women.
At this stage of a woman’s life, the deposit and utilisation of fat from various areas of the body are regulated by estrogen – sex hormone.
All the estrogen wants to do at puberty is make her figures come out
At this point in a girl’s life, estrogen inhibits the deposit of fat in the abdomen. But it stimulates fat deposit in the buttocks and thighs.
This is what triggers the development of hips as puberty sets in (1).
For a man, the sex hormone – testosterone – stimulates fat deposit in the abdominal region, as puberty sets in.
It makes sure fat deposits do not got to the hip and buttock region.
Indeed, it is this sexually body fat distribution which primarily sculpts typical body shape differences between the sexes that become noticeable after pubertal onset.
Women have greater amounts of body fat in the lower part of the body (gynoid body fat, or pear shape), whereas men have greater amounts of fat in the upper body (android body fat, or apple shape).
However, while this happens, the individual is supposed to make a shift in diet and lifestyle. This ensures the fat deposits in the regions do not enter an unhealthy level.
Not being active and watching diet lead to increase of fat deposits in these regions, triggering an unhealthy Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR).
Can Big Hips Affect Fertility?
Waist-to-hip and fertility is a topic that does not really get so much attention as it should.
One of the reasons is the assumption and belief that men admire women with pear shape more.
Well, that remains a topic of debate.
On whether this WHR can affect a woman’s fertility, there are different angles to look at it.
First we will be outright about the discussion.
1. Waist-To-Hip Ratio And Cycles
According to a 2002 study, WHR reliably signals practically all the conditions that affect women’s reproductive status.
The study highlights that the onset of puberty and resultant activation of the menstrual cycle is related to the
size of WHR.
“Females with a high WHR have more irregular cycles and have significantly fewer ovulatory cycles than women with a low WHR (2).”
Indeed, studies have also shown that irregular cycles and fewer ovulation cycles are issues that could cause infertility.
A study says irregular ovulation (anovulation) accounts for 30% of cases of infertility in women (3).
There are other studies that also say women with high WHR have less reproductive range through life.
2. WHR Can Affect Pregnancy Induction
Most times, when it is difficult for a woman to conceive, she seeks other options that could aid conception.
But with a waist-to-hip ratio that is out of order, it could be difficult.
A study says the probability of successful pregnancy induction is also affected by WHR.
According to the study, women participating in a donor insemination programme have a lower probability of conception if their WHR is greater than 0.8, after controlling for age, BMI and parity (4).
What is the relationship between the waist-to-hip ratio and fertility? you will ask.
Well, the above study says “the failure to conceive during artificial insemination could be due either to deficits in gonadotropin hormone release or some variable associated with embryo implantation.
The researchers found that the pregnancy rate of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) embryo transfer, however, bypasses this problem.
They explained that in IVF process, gonadotropin hormones are regulated prior to embryo transfer.
However, they also concluded that women with high WHR (0.80 or higher) have significantly lower pregnancy rates than women with lower WHRs (0.70 to 0.79), independent of their BMIs.
Basically, it appears that the lower pregnancy rate in women with high WHR, compared to women with low WHR, is due to a problem with embryo development and its viability.
3. Indirect Ways Waist-To-Hip Ratio Could Affect Fertility
Unfortunately, there are other diseases that a ratio higher than the normal range could trigger.
These diseases could affect a woman’s ability to conceive.
WHR Increases Risk Of Other Diseases
According to a study, WHR is an independent predictor for cardiovascular disorders, adult-onset diabetes,
elevated plasma lipids, hypertension, cancer (endometrial, ovarian and breast), gallbladder disease and premature mortality (5).
Diabetes And Fertility
We know that some of these diseases could affect a couple’s chances of having a baby.
For instance, a 2015 study says type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes could have detrimental effects on male fertility.
It highlights that it could affect sperm quality, such as sperm motility, sperm DNA integrity, and ingredients of seminal plasma (6).
Furthermore, diabetes can cause hormonal disruptions which in turn can lead to delayed or failed implantation and/or conception (7).
Ovarian Cancer And Fertility
Also, there are studies that show ovarian cancer and other tumors could make a woman lose her fertility, or the ability to get pregnant (8).
Other health issues listed above, in one way or another, affect a woman or man’s fertility.
As a result, maintaining a healthy WHR is important in preserving your fertility.
Normal Waist-To-Hip Ratio
As seen earlier, the normal WHR is between 0.70 to 0.79, independent of their BMIs. Once it exceeds this range, it becomes abnormal and could pose a challenge to a woman’s fertility (9).
However, the World health Organisation defines abdominal obesity in men as a waist-to-hip ratio of at least 0.90.
For women, it’s a ratio of 0.85 or more. it highlights that a ratio higher than 1.0 for either sex means a much higher chance of health problems (10).
How To Measure Waist-To-Hip Ratio
Now that you know the risk of having that big hip – the fact that there is a relationship between waist-to-hip ratio and fertility – you may want to be sure of where you stand.
Women Also Read: How To Lose Belly Fat After Child Birth
To measure yours, kindly get a rule and follow the instruction below.
Measure at the smallest point: Now take the tape and measure around your waist at the smallest point, somewhere around your belly button. Record the figure as your waist circumference.
Take Hip Measurement: Again, wrap the tape around your hips at the widest part.
Record the figure as your hip circumference.
Do The Division: Open the calculator app in your mobile device and divide your waist size by your hip size.
This is your waist-to-hip ratio.
Ensure that you note this ratio somewhere and check again once in a while.