Call for fertility ban for obese or too thin

[Joolstoo]

On the NHS -
But if you smoke or are gay you're safe

discuss

is it discriminatory or sensible?

I'm no defender of the government yorkshirelass but I don't think this proposal some form the govt - it came from a group of fertility experts who are suggesting that there is a nationwide set of criteria rather than piecemeal criteria as at present.

is it right to transplant to someone who already has other health complications?

my friend had removal of eggs when she had luekemia, isnt that a part of fertility treatment?

by age 43 IVF success rates are no higher on average than just having IUI so It makes absolutely no sense to fund IVF for women over 43 unless for a specific fertility issue that can;t be addressed any other way (ICSI or egg donation for example)

Desperatescousewife, there isn't enough money to pay for everything. In order for that even to be even vaguely an option we would have to pay much much more into the system than we do at the moment. And on the whole we are not prepared to vote for a governent that says it wants to raise taxes alot in order to improve public services.
If the money is at a premium then a decision has to be made about how it is best spent. That much is a given.

39 is the cut off point for ivf..im 34 so apparently i will be "old" in 5 years time!

OK I've had my say (repeatedly ) so I'm off to the BigMoFo's thread to lose some more weight...

Just for illustration:

a person with a height of 5foot, 6 inches can weigh 220 pounds and still qualify for treatment under this policy. (BMI=35.5)

maybe we ought to force women to start having their babies younger then, as that may or may not solve the money problem aswell ,said in a deeply sarcastic voice>

I thought it was no treatment for lower than 19. higher than 29.

My problem is that BMI is a blunt instrument, although probably less so for women than men. My dh has a BMI of 29, but is NOT obese. He is tall and fit (big muscles!). Many sportsmen have "obese" BMIs, but as I said, I'm not sure the same factors would mitigate for women.

Oh, I agree about having cut off points for age. It makes sound sense. As does having cut off points for other "conditions" that affect the success rate.

you have to draw a line. There is not an unlimited pot of money. If you say "treat everyone" you are saying that everyone should have as much treatment for any condition as they feel is necessary. And who would fund all this treatment. Are you prepared to pay extra income tax in order for the nhs to become an unlimited resource?

what is 220 lbs in stones and lbs?

you might not feel old Space Cadet but your eggs age rapidly after 39 (I did post some stats on this a while ago but haven't the energy to dig them out)

15st 10 lbs

no iagree with the age cut offs just laughing at the prospect of being old in 5 years!

hhmm 5ft 6 and almost 16stone is not exactly massive

MrsFio - 200 lbs is 15.5 stone

sue-they will be the last thing to age then..as everything else aged some time ago

I have just posted on another site regarding this article. I got slated. I said the same as someone above, a child is a gift, not a right. I got yelled @ and it was likened to needing crutches to walk... which I couldn't actually see. So will just leave this thread

I don't really see why the controversy actually. if being obese affect the success rate of IVF then why not insist people lose weight before getting treatment?

I know we all pay our taxes, but we pay much less than people in other countries do, and yet we expect all kinds of NHS treatment to be available regardless. We cannot have everything: either we pay more taxes or we have to have policies in place which will maximise value for money in the nhs. and this is one of those policies.

I do think they're right to try to standardise it too. and hopefully they'll get rid of the silly rules about not giving ivf to couples with a child from a previous relationship etc.

Suejonez may I say that I really admire your stance on this, it must have been very difficult for you. You come across as a person of great dignity.

kittywits
i know there isnt enough money as they are too busy paying the pencil pushers
to walk around our hospitals
making themselves look busy

and if none of you have seen that

as for testerones post, i think we are all entitled to treatment
some more than others as in the case of misdee, peter should have preferential treatment as he is known by us in a virtual sense

but yes everyone has a right to be treated

Fireflyfairy it's actually pretty civil and level headed here at the mo, which is great.

I am 5.7 and just over 16 stone (on a good day!!!!)

Don't consider myself obese and don't feel it but I know it is not good for me generally let alone whilst trying to conceive and carry a baby.

I try to eat helthily most of the time but do hae a few glasses of wine in the evening. I don't exist on a crappy diet so fell I am as healthy as I can be at this weight. I should joing BigMoFo's too!