IVF - Overweight High BMI - Ectopics - Question

[NHMomto1]

Newbie here. I hope someone may have an answer for me. What do you think I will be told at my IVF consultation next week.

Here is a rundown of my situation:

Me 34 - overweight - size 26 (have been for many years) PCOS
Hubby 35 (SA fine)
Have a 3 year old son, conceived on 2nd round of 50mg of clomid
Normal pregnancy, no diabetes, no high bp, no complications, vaginal delivery, carried full term.

ttc#2:
pregnant on my own (not ttc) but was ectopic w/tube rupture and loss of right tube 11/05. Left tube showed clear on 2 seperate HSGs
3 rounds 50 mg clomid = all negative
3 rounds 100 mg clomid = all negative
3 IUI's w/clomid and ovidrel = all negative

on Break since September 2007
pregnant on own 2/2008 - ended in miscarriage at 5 weeks
pregnannt on own 3/2008 (no af after miscarriage) - ectopic site unknown.

Referred to IVF clinic by ob/gyn, doesn't want to do any more IUI's or clomid because of the high chances of ectopic. She thinks they will have me schedule surgery for tube removal (which I am ok with) . I am concerned what they will say about my weight - I would have to lose almost 100 lbs to have a bmi under 40. Also with the previous ectopics, what is the typical info they tell you?

Thanks!

[marianna]

Hi!....I am overweight.....size 22/24 and I am doing IVF.....though, I don't have PCOS......my doc never mentioned my weight to me....I've seen many overweight women in my clinic....I don't think you'll have anything to worry about.....good luck!

[MzTia]

Hello , I am also overweight. In my research I have read that some clinics require you to be under BMI 40. My RE was more concerned with age then weight. I do not have any fertility issues our issues are all male factor. My doctors main concern was whether I would absorb the meds so I was put pn a high dose imo. I ended up only taking meds for 7 days and I believe that my meds were way to high. I do believe the RE did make the right decision by dosage though. But as for the weight if I had been under 35 yrs old I DO believe he would have encouraged strongly for the weight loss.

Best of luck

[SDtrying]

NHmom- Wow, you've been through a lot. I really don't know what your new RE will say, most likely you'll be advised to lose weight to improve your success rates. I'm a doc too (in an unrelated field though), so I know that docs often feel obligated to state the facts about weight loss or other things. However, thus far my experience with REs has been that they're a pretty good bunch of people (after all they're in the business of helping people make babies), so hopefully you won't feel judged or blamed.

I read MzTia post- I never knew that some docs have cut offs like that. Hopefully you'll find someone who will work with you towards your pregnancy goals without out-right saying no to you due to a high BMI. I'm sure you'll find the right doc for you- I wish you a successful journey. Wonderful moms come in all shapes and sizes!

[Dakota]

Every clinic is different and every RE inside that clinic is different. I am PCOS and my BMI used to be almost 40 (39.7) and I was told by my then RE to loose 100lbs (which I did) but it didnt impack my fertility at all. I had more regular AF cycles and didnt have much PCOS side effects anymore, but all the statisics about the weight loss and IF didnt work for me. Since then, I've gained a few lbs back, my BMI was 24 point something and my RE asked me to loose 10lbs!! He is very strict about weight, although I didnt loose 10lbs I actually gained 10lbs. I've known women who only needed to loose 10% of their body weight to get IF results, as I have read that sometimes that's all it takes.

GL to you, I hope it all works out.

[Xo'Phoeah]

I haven't gone through everything that you have. Our problems are different (I don't have any known fertility issues, but my husband's issues completely prevent us from getting pregnant on our own). But I am also overweight (22/24) and my doctor said nothing. I have read about doctors (like the post above) that are strict, but mine didn't even mention it. I think you'll just have to wait and see how your doctor feels about the issue. And if you don't agree, you could always look for someone else depending on how many there are in your area.

[NHMomto1]

Well I met with one of the IVF clinics here in New England.

The answer was basically "NO IVF until my BMI is below 40" For me that is over 100 lbs to lose.

He basically blamed most of my problems, and possibly the last ectopic on my weight.

I am pretty dissappointed and I have an appointment in August with a nutritionist.

I have more the info on stats with Plus Size & IVF that he gave me. Basically he said I have less than a 5% chance of concieving and having a healthy baby at my weight - with IVF, ART or TTC naturally. Ummm interesting, I have a healthy 3 1/2 yr old that I delivered normally with no issues. Interesting!