Do you know your BMI (body mass index)? If not, it might be a good idea to find out if you’re trying to have a baby.BMI is a method of determining whether you’re at a weight that is healthy for your frame (judging by height). Though it can be somewhat skewed if you are very short or excessively tall, it’s typically a decent indicator for people of average height, which is the majority of the population.

In terms of fertility, your BMI should fall in the normal weight category, which is 18.5-24.9, to give you the best chances of success. So the closer you can get to that range, the better off you’ll be. (For a quick BMI calculator, check here.)

So how does BMI affect fertility? In a nutshell, if you’re underweight, your body may not be producing enough hormones to create an internal environment that’s conducive to regular ovulation and menses.

On the other end of the scale, if your BMI shows you to be overweight or obese, additional health problems (like early onset of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.) can make conception difficult.

Though having a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 won’t assure that you’ll be able to conceive naturally or with fertility treatments, you’ll be at a much better starting point weight-wise.