How weight influences brain-ovary communication

I'm thrilled to welcome Dr. Meredith Provost to The Egg Whisperer Show for an essential conversation about weight, exercise, and fertility. Dr. Provost brings an incredible background to this discussion: she's a reproductive endocrinologist at Indiana Fertility Institute with degrees from NC State, McMaster University, and a PhD from Cambridge in the history and philosophy of science. As a former Division I volleyball player and athlete herself, she uniquely understands both the science and the practical realities of maintaining health while trying to conceive. Her approach is refreshingly balanced and evidence-based, making her the perfect expert to tackle these often-confusing topics. Read the full show notes on Dr. Aimee's website In this episode, we dive deep into how weight impacts fertility for both women and men, exploring the hormonal mechanisms behind these connections. Dr. Provost shares her compassionate, non-restrictive approach to helping patients optimize their health without extreme measures or body shaming. We discuss realistic dietary recommendations, the role of BMI in fertility outcomes, and what exercise is safe during different stages of fertility treatment, from IUI cycles to egg freezing, IVF, and early pregnancy. Her philosophy of "fertility is a marathon, not a race" resonates throughout our conversation, offering hope and practical guidance for anyone on their fertility journey. In this episode, we cover:

• How weight affects the communication between your brain and ovaries, impacting ovulation
• The difference between how higher and lower BMI affects fertility in women versus men
• Why eating "real food" matters more than following restrictive fad diets
• Exercise guidelines during IUI, IVF, egg freezing, embryo transfer, and early pregnancy
• The truth about BMI goals and why Dr. Provost doesn't restrict treatment based on weight alone
• How to create sustainable lifestyle changes with accountability partners
• Why you shouldn't eliminate all the healthy coping mechanisms (like exercise) when trying to conceive

Resources:

• Indiana Fertility Institute: fertilityindy.com
• Dr. Meredith Provost on Instagram: @meredithprovostmd
• "The Obesity Code" by Dr. Jason Fung (mentioned for intermittent fasting information)
• Online BMI calculators for tracking body mass index

Do you have questions about IVF? Click here to join Dr. Aimee for The IVF Class. The next live class call is on Monday, February 9, 2026, at 4 pm PST, where Dr. Aimee will explain IVF and Egg Freezing, and there will be time to ask her your questions live on Zoom. Other ways to follow Dr. Aimee: Visit my YouTube channel for more fertility tipsSubscribe to the newsletter to get updatesJoin The Egg Whisperer SchoolRequest a Consultation with Dr. Aimee Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh is one of America's most well‑known fertility doctors. Her success rate at baby‑making gives future parents hope when all hope is lost. She pioneered the TUSHY Method and BALLS Method to decrease your time to pregnancy. Learn more about the TUSHY Method and find a wealth of fertility resources at www.draimee.org. Keywords: fertility and weight, BMI and fertility, exercise during IVF, diet for fertility, PCOS weight loss, fertility doctor Indianapolis, egg freezing exercise restrictions, embryo transfer activity, reproductive endocrinology, fertility nutrition, weight loss for conception, ovulation and BMI, male fertility and weight, intermittent fasting PCOS, IVF success rates, fertility marathon, Dr. Meredith Provost, Indiana Fertility Institute, The Egg Whisperer Show, Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh