Women who are very athletic and women who have eating disorders (such as

 

 

 

 

 

anorexia
Anorexia is an eating disorder. People who have anorexia starve themselves because they think they are too fat. They do this even when they are very thin. It is most common among teenage girls. Doctors may call it anorexia nervosa.

 

 

 

 

 

anorexia or

 

 

 

 

 

bulimia
Bulimia is a psychological illness. People who have it tend to eat too much at one time (called bingeing) and then do something to keep from gaining weight. For example, they may make themselves throw up or do too much exercise.

 

 

 

 

 

bulimia) have low levels of body fat. This may mean they don't

 

 

 

 

 

ovulation
To get pregnant, a woman needs to release an egg from one of her ovaries. This is called ovulation. It normally happens once every month. The egg leaves the ovary and moves toward the womb.

 

 

 

 

 

ovulate every month.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
What am I doing that can cause infertility?
Available at http://www.protectyourfertility.org/femalerisks.html (accessed on 29 July 2009).

 

 

 

 

 

¹

Women who are overweight or underweight can have an imbalance of

 

 

 

 

 

hormones
Hormones are chemicals that are made in certain parts of the body. They travel through the bloodstream and have an effect on other parts of the body. For example, the female sex hormone estrogen is made in a woman's ovaries. Estrogen has many different effects on a woman's body. It makes the breasts grow at puberty and helps control periods. It is also needed to get pregnant.

 

 

 

 

 

hormones that increases the risk of infertility.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
What am I doing that can cause infertility?
Available at http://www.protectyourfertility.org/femalerisks.html (accessed on 29 July 2009).

 

 

 

 

 

¹

To find out more about how being overweight affects your fertility, see Fertility treatments and your weight.

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