FET query

[HeidiB87]

Looking for advice -

5 years ago I discovered I had breast cancer. My husband and I went though IVF and froze 6 healthy embryos before under going treatment. I have the BRCA1 gene so decided to have my ovaries removed as well as a double mastectomy.

Roll on to present day, I’m well and we are ready to use our embryos. Here in lies the problem - Since my diagnosis I have unsurprisingly went from a BMI of 28 to 33 and the NHS will not allow us to use our embryos until my BMI is 30 (so about 2 stone of weight I need to lose)

I understand the need for ‘optimal’ conditions but this has been an absolutely disheartening. During my treatment I lost so much weight I was on special high calorie milkshakes to bulk me up. My body has been through absolute hell. I don’t consider myself fat, let alone obese. I’m the healthiest I’ve been in years and to be told, basically, my body isn’t good enough is a complete proverbial slap in the face. BMI is such an outdated load of BS in my eyes.

My query is can you transfer NHS embryos to a private clinic? We are in a position financially to do this.

When I’ve had a google the majority of them all say a BMI of 35 or under is acceptable for FET.

Please can someone advise - at a complete loss.

You can do it. It may be worth contacting the clinics you are thinking of using to discuss procedures etc.

I do understand you wanting to start your fertility journey given everything you’ve been through, but don’t take it as them saying your body isn’t good enough. With a limited amount of embryos they just want to ensure you will have the best possible chance of getting the child you long for. Wishing you every success

Embryo transport company for info
www.embryoport.co.uk/faq

A couple of clinic info pages here as examples
www.carefertility.com/blog/bring-your-frozen-embryos-and-sperm-to-care/

agoraclinic.co.uk/transporting-frozen-sperm-eggs-or-embryos/

Thank you so much for replying! Yes I have emailed a clinic to enquire. I understand, it’s just so frustrating given what I’ve been through.

Yes you can. We had a similar situation after my husband had cancer. So it was sperm we were transporting. We had to go and collect it in this huge tank that has frozen ice or something in it and literally drive with it to the private clinic. It was the clinics tanks

I am sorry for everything you've been through, and it makes total sense that you would feel disheartened getting these news after all this.

Yes you can transfer the embryos, but before transferring you should make sure the private clinic will make the transfer regardless the bmi.

Also, we have a weight loss for IVF thread, where we talk about experiences, give tips and help each other through this.