Does weight loss help?

[elenacampana]

I’ll try not to go into too much detail!

Started ttc August 2019. I was 32 then, 33 now. Got a positive test in Dec, bleeding started a week later so that was that. Started losing weight in March and took a mental health break from ttc for 3 months. Have lost 17lbs since end of March so that’s great and still going. Was BMI of 34 at the start, which NHS says is obese, am now at 32 and almost out of the obese category. I’m 5ft2 and currently 12st5. Periods are regular as clockwork.

Have just ordered a basal thermometer so try and pinpoint conception better and will get some ovulation test strips as well.

I’m aware there is more weight to lose and my weight is not considered healthy. I’m also aware that we have successfully conceived in the past. I know there is still hope and we have had breaks in the yr etc, but it is still very demoralising when the period comes again each month. There was a big window of hope a year ago, it’s more like a little sliver now and keeps getting smaller.

I’m interested in stories from people who have had positive outcomes after weight loss so if you have any, please share. I could do with a boost :-)

I guess not :-(

No advice here but bumping for you.

Also TTC, had 2 MCs and been trying for nearly 2 years, so I get it, and you are not alone!

Also congrats on the weight loss!

@elenacampana hi! Not really a success story but a hopeful one. I lost 4 stone and regulated my cycle and started ovulating. I fell pregnant in March which was 5 months after I started ovulating but unfortunately I miscarried in May. So although the little bean didn't stick, the weight loss definitely helped me conceive after 2 years of trying

I was trying for 18months and conceived the month I went into healthy bmi. Lose weight and good luck

Thanks everyone. It seems that weight loss does help then :-)

I didn’t want to get too hung up on weight loss being the magic thing that fixes it and then it doesn’t fix it after all so I wanted to ask if it’s helped anyone else.

I’m so much happier with myself now that I’m lighter. I’ve been a yo-yoer for years and I’ve had enough of it so even if a baby never comes, this slimmer version of myself is here to stay and I’m far from finished.

Thanks for replying. You’ve cheered me up.

@elenacampana I will say it doesn't even have to be extreme. I was morbidly obese at 19 and a half stone and got down to 15.5. So still obese by bmi standards! GPs finally referred me to fertility clinic when I got to 16 but I fell naturally whilst waiting on AF arriving to get a HSG test. Good luck 🤞

Yes, I was trying for 3 years, it was only after losing 10% of my body weight that my periods got regular and I was sure I was ovulating. Just after that I conceived.

Years ago someone once told me ...'you lose weight to put on weight'
Not that I had much to lose but I did lose a bit of weight then suddenly found myself pregant.

Extra weight can play havoc with hormones, even with regular periods and a good egg count like me. I started TTC age 32 also.

I'd TTC 4yrs, but admittedly worked away from home often, and wasn't closely tracking ovulation etc, but I did stop contraception at 32. After 4yrs, DH and I lost 10kg, then I was made redundant from a very stressful job. I concieved the following month. I can't say if it was the weight loss or stress, but something changed!!!

Unfortunately, that pregnancy was the 1st of 3 miscarriages I've now had. All have been due to genetic issues (I've had testing on the foetuses) and likely due to age as I'm now 42. I recently bought a book called 'It starts with an egg'. I'm only a few sections in, but seems to make sense and has some basic lifestyle changes I'm making. Might be worth getting.

I think most people know obese friends that have had babies, but being a healthier weight to start with certainly helps. Best of luck op and if not alreayd done so, seek professional fertility advice early on.
I was fobbed off for years before I changed GP's after being told not the stress and that the 1 blood test they'd dont was normal- no further tests of referrals offered. Anger is not the word in hindsight and I wished I'd pushed for further tests. best of luck

I guess I could have to wait a while until I’m in the healthy BMI range or just less overweight than I am now.

Good luck to everyone who’s posted here and is still trying.

Hey @elenacampana - the advice they give is that healthy slow weight loss helps but dont wait on it. If you want a baby start TTC now, but build healthy weight and exercise habits along the way. Remember also that losing weight drastically, interesting, and over exercising negatively affect fertility.

I'm in a similar boat - overweight BMI, no periods. So Im getting some investigation (having to push!) and also trying to lose weight in a quiet and slow way.

Thanks @TheDaydreamBelievers. Started losing weight a couple of months ago and a‐have always been a long distance walker. Started TTC last year.

My periods are regular and I have conceived in the past so we’re seeing how the next few months go.

Good luck to you.