When Weight Meets Fertility: Building Confidence and Compassion in the Conversations Ahead

This week’s CPD webinar, Weight and Fertility Health: Practical Insights for GPs – From BMI and Body Fat to GLP-1s, was one of our most engaging yet. Hosted in collaboration with Myhealth Academy, it brought together a highly interactive audience of General Practitioners eager to explore one of the most complex and sensitive intersections in healthcare: where metabolic health meets fertility.

And what a conversation it was.

From the outset, it was clear that this topic resonates deeply, not only because of its clinical relevance, but because it reflects two major realities shaping modern practice: an ageing population, and the fact that two-thirds of Australians are now living with overweight or obesity.

For GPs, these realities converge in the consulting room, where conversations about preconception, hormones, body composition and weight must be handled with compassion and dignity.

Why It Matters

Fertility health is influenced by countless factors, but body composition remains one of the most impactful. While much attention has traditionally focused on women, research continues to affirm that male weight and metabolic health play an equally critical role in reproductive outcomes. It truly does 'take two to tango'.

Yet for many patients, discussions about weight are fraught with stigma, frustration or confusion. For clinicians, balancing evidence-based guidance with empathy can be challenging, especially when access barriers, BMI-based fertility eligibility criteria, and social misconceptions come into play.

That’s why sessions like this are so important. They empower GPs to approach these discussions with confidence, updated knowledge, and a framework for sensitive, patient-centred care.

Key Insights from the Webinar

Some of the most valuable reflections shared by attendees included:

• A multidisciplinary approach works best. Combining medical, nutritional and behavioural support can help restore natural ovulation and improve fertility outcomes.
• Male health matters. Addressing metabolic health and weight in men can significantly influence conception success rates.
• Language and empathy are everything. Stigma-free communication builds trust and encourages patient engagement.
• Medication conversations are evolving. With GLP-1 receptor agonists now part of the weight management landscape, clinicians must also consider safety, washout periods, and inadvertent pregnancy risks.

Navigating the Fertility Conversation

Every GP knows the tightrope of discussing weight. It’s not about judgement, it’s about helping patients optimise their health for the best possible outcomes. This means reframing the conversation away from numbers and toward function, hormones, and overall wellbeing.

Empathy doesn’t dilute clinical rigour, it strengthens it. By acknowledging the biological, emotional and social layers of weight and fertility, we create space for more honest, stigma-free care.

And that’s precisely what this webinar achieved: helping GPs feel better equipped to navigate these conversations, balancing evidence with understanding, and strategy with compassion.

Looking Ahead

For those who missed the live session, a replay will soon be available as an on-demand CPD module through Myhealth Academy. 

At Enlighten Me, we remain committed to supporting both patients and practitioners on this journey, through education, collaboration, and evidence-based solutions that recognise the whole person, not just the diagnosis.

Because when weight meets fertility, it’s not just about conception – it’s about connection.