Weight & IVF

[janehealy]

Hi All

Just wondering if anyone has had problems with IVF and there weight. Has anyone not been allowed to proceed with IVF due to been overweight. Im scared stiff, i have my first consulation in Jan 09 and I am worried that they will say I need to loose weight before they can allow me to start. My BMI is over 40 and I am 33, dont get me wrong I have tried to loose weight but as soon as I do it goes back on , twice as much. I was also told that i have PCOS last year which doesnt help. Has anyone got any advice or been in a simular situation

Thanks

Jane

[to_have_fun08]

I think it might be just up to your RE. All RE's are different. I have a BMI level of 34 and my RE hasn't mentioned a thing about my weight. Good luck on the weight loss. I am trying to do the same thing. Its really really hard right now because of the holidays.

Chris

[KESSA]

My clinics literature states that IVF will not be done on a women with a BMI over 35. But that's just for NHS treatment, although I suspect it would hold true for private, just because of the risks of obesity in pregnancy and it affecting the chances of success. Are you on any meds for your PCOS? I've heard Metformin can help with the weight control, but don't quote me on that. GL with your weight loss

[SilverAngel679]

your weight shouldn't be a problem. My first IVF I was in the very high 200 range and this last round I weighed in at 306 just before my retrival. I was a great responder and made lots of healthy embryo's. I'm pregnant with twins right now and have 6 frozen babies left. You weight means almost nothing. I'm an attestment to that.
I also had been told I have polycycstic ovaries at one point. It was never a proble and I was told by my RE that poly-cystic ovaries are great for IVF because we naturally make lots of eggs. Good luck in it all try not to sweat the small stuff and keep us posted when you can.
BABY DUST!!!

[dys24]

In my clinic a BMI <35 you need an anesthesia consult. I believe anything over 45 or 16'' neck they wont do IVF. My Doc said its because its unsafe for the anesthesia part. I think it depends on the clinics anesthesiologists and what they consider safe and unsafe. You should ask your Doc about metformin it really helps PCOS women to loose and maintain weight. It also restores ovulation in a lot of PCOS women. I'm on Met. for three weeks and first week I've lost 5lbs I couldn't believe it!!! My Doc also mentioned met. helps with egg quality when it comes to IVF. Good luck!!!!

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[not hopeless yet]

Hi Jane-
I agree that it varies clinic by clinic. Hopefully they'll let you continue with the next cycle but you might want to consider weight watchers or something. I joined when I first started this fertility journey & like that its not really a diet because you eat "real" food and just learn better habits

Although I can totally understand not wanting an additional stress of losing weight. Just do your best and good luck with the appointment in Jan. It's going to be a good year for us all - I just know it (or atleast that's what I have to tell myself, right?)

[toxotis]

HI JANE,I HOPE YOUR GETTING ON WELL WITH YOUR WEIGHT LOSE,BUT DONT FRET....I,VE HAD 3 ATTEMPTS AT IVF AND MY BMI IS WAY OVER WHAT IT SHOULD BE.....I THOUGHT AS WELL(AND WORRIED LIKE YOURSELF ) THAT THEY WOULDNT ALLOW ME TO DO IT BUT THE DOC NEVER EVEN MENTIONED IT.I THINK IT PROB HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE WOMEN....I,M HOPING TO DO MY 4TH ATTEMPT IN JAN AS WELL SO WHO KNOW? MAYBE WE,LL BOTH BE LUCKY EH!!
I ALSO HAVE SEVERE ENDOMETRIOSIS AND FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY ON ARVEKAP INJECTIONS (THESE BRING ON A FAULSE MENOPAUSE,ALL THE SYMPTOMS!! WEIGHT GAIN,FLUSHES THE LOT !! HAD A FEW OTHER PROBLEMS WHICH HOPEFULLY WE,VE SORTED OUT NOW...JUST FINISHED MY LAST INJECTION BOUT 2 MONTHS AGO SO WAITING TO GET BACK TO NORMAL AND START THE IVF TRAIN GOING AGAIN AND FOR THE LAST TIME FOR ME!! GOOD LUCK TO YOU X