Considering IVF

[HopelessGsyGirl]

Evening all,

Apologies if this is in the wrong place. I was trying to post in the Infertility area but it didn’t give me the option…

I am 32 and two years into my TTC journey and starting to consider IVF. I’m looking into costs as I want to be fully informed before proceeding. Initial indications are £3,500 for IVF cycle and £1-2k for medications.

I have seen clinics offering £2,500 all in (includes meds) but you need a BMI under 30 to qualify. I am now considering taking a 3 month break to try weight loss injections to see if I can lose the 15kg/33lb I need to get under 30 BMI if order to save money in the long run.

What are peoples thoughts? Should I go straight in for IVF or should I postpone TTC whilst I lose weight first?

Hopeful bump and a question - can’t NHS offer a cycle or two depending on location?

I’d always recommend getting yourself as fit and healthy as possible before ttc. Even a small amount of weight loss can increase your chances of conceiving quite significantly, plus there is a reason that lots of clinics have BMI requirements- it is safer and more likely to be successful on those with of a healthy weight, same goes for a pregnancy, the fitter and healthier you are going into it the better chance you have of success. There really is a lot of studies done and evidence to show that obesity lowers the chance of success in IVF, it results in lower fertilisation rates, poor quality embryos and higher miscarriage rates. So especially if you are self-funding give yourself the best chance of success the first time by getting yourself as healthy as possible.

Are you not eligible for NHS IVF after 2 years?

Unfortunately not as this is a second child and I’m in the Channel Islands not the UK

That doesn’t seem fair at all! Hope someone with experience here can help 🫂

Thank you for your feedback. It makes complete sense. Unfortunately, I’m not eligible on the NHS as per my previous comment x

Ah that’s a shame. In that case especially as you are having to fund it yourself I’d give yourself the time to get as healthy as possible to give yourself the absolute best possible chance first round. You may find that actually at a lower weight you fall pregnant naturally while preparing for IVF as I say weight loss does improve fertility x

Oh just saw you mentioned weight loss injections for the weight loss, if that is your plan remember you would then need to wait 5 months if you are going to take them for 3 months to try and lose the weight. You have to have been off any weight loss injections for 2 full months before you try to conceive because they have not yet fully understood what the impact is of the injections on pregnancy & fetal development so they won’t start IVF until you are 2 months clear of it x

Yes, completely understood. I hope I could at least start consultations etc whilst in the 2 month window ☺️

By the time you factor in freezing and transfer you need to budget about £7k per round

Thank you - that is good to know ☺️

Definitely do the injections, losing that much might kick start you to conceive without ivf

At 32, I would absolutely try losing the weight before TTC and certainly before paying for IVF. Did you conceive the 1st time without IVF, or do you have medical issues that require it? Being overweight can have a massive baring on hormones and pregnancy.

I'd TTC 4yrs. Admittedly, I did have to work abroad at times, so wouldn't say actively TTC every, single month of those 2yrs, but I wasn't on contraception either. DH and I started swimming and walking more and both lost 10kg each. We had both been just in the overweight range, but actually conceived a month later! Sadly, things didn't work out and I MC, but I can only think the weight lost helped. best of luck.