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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Overweight on NHS IVF

37 replies

Marimul · 11/08/2024 18:59

I'm wondering if anyone else is going starting the same process of fertility through IVF while being overweight.

I have pcos and anxiety(currently on sertraline)
The duo causes me weight gain and has made loosing weight near impossible, I've tried everything I can financially afford. ( Had been referred for weight loss injections but nothing came of it)

I've been referred by the GP for IVF 4 weeks ago.
I have read through NHS IVF and seen the criteria, which I currently don't meet due to my weight.

My question is has anybody had this same experience and how did you manage? Did the specialist decline the IVF or did they help with weight loss? Or was there an exception?

I'm worried I won't be accepted and won't be able to get pregnant.

Any advice or experience stories welcomed.

OP posts:
CraftyNavySeal · 11/08/2024 20:18

Could you get help with weight loss first, like injections? You might well find that if you lose weight you won’t need IVF. “Ozempic babies” are a thing!

Sometimeswinning · 11/08/2024 20:12

Will you not need to come off Sertraline when pregnant? It does come with risks. Very low I know.

fdsgfd · 11/08/2024 19:55

The BMI limits are not arbitrary, being outside 19-30 makes you less likely to conceive.

How old are you? If you are not near the age limits I would work on reducing your BMI to below 30 before having IVF

Original poster
Marimul · 11/08/2024 19:26

Okay it makes sense about the medication,

And I'm not too far off but since being on sertraline I have not been able to loose no more than 2 pounds or so, whereas before with my personal trainer I managed to lose 1.5 stone, but have gained and more on the sertraline.

I'm not able to come off the medication as I get anxiety attacks, with the medication I'm good.

OP posts:
tuttuttutt · 11/08/2024 19:23

35 is quite lenient. That's quite into the obese range. Are you far off that?

lunar1 · 11/08/2024 19:22

The NHS was a bmi of 30 when I had to lose the weight, I was 39 at the time

girljulian · 11/08/2024 19:20

Marimul · 11/08/2024 19:18

So is dependant on the specific clinic as NHS I believe is 35 BMI.

It's so difficult to loose the weight for me, I don't know where to start and it hasn't even started yet!😫

Edited

Yes, but there is a good reason — I asked my consultant why there was a limit, because lots of overweight women have babies successfully. He said the problem isn’t the pregnancy, but the drugs — they are unable to work properly if your BMI is too high.

Original poster
Marimul · 11/08/2024 19:18

So is dependant on the specific clinic as NHS I believe is 35 BMI.

It's so difficult to loose the weight for me, I don't know where to start and it hasn't even started yet!😫

OP posts:
girljulian · 11/08/2024 19:16

Privately funded IVF is more lenient, they said under BMI 30 at my clinic.

Original poster
Marimul · 11/08/2024 19:08

Thank you. I new it would be a problem but had no pre warning or any information about it.

I know the NHS criteria is so strict but I'd rather have known before being referred so I'm not disappointed straight away.

Thanks for the honesty.

Are you aware of weight criteria for privately funded IVF?

OP posts:
ScaredSally · 11/08/2024 19:04

I haven't been through it but know several people we where referred and denied due to weight and eventually either gave up trying because they couldn't lose the weight or saved to pay for it privately

lunar1 · 11/08/2024 19:04

I'll be honest because I don't think there is any point sugar coating it. The GP referred me, knowing my weight, but didn't really emphasise the importance, and this was a long time ago now.

When my appointment came through they said they would do all the tests, but my BMI had to meet the threshold before I would get treatment.

Getting to the right weight took me an extra 6 months, and my funded cycle failed, so I ended up paying anyway.

dS1 is 15 now, so add a few years on to that, but I wasn't offered any help with weight loss.

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