Mounjaro/wegovy and IVF

[IVFveteran]

Has anyone taken any of these weight loss drugs to help lose weight before fertility treatment?

I am having another round of IVF in a few months time (probably August/ September) and I've got some weight to lose. My BMI is around 30 and I'm struggling to reduce it with the usual methods.

I know these drugs can interfere with pregnancy but if I take it during the injections/ egg collection, have a freeze all cycle (which it will be anyway), then stop it before the embryo transfer, will this be OK?

Has anyone done similar?

I would 100% say no to this.

I am similar in having a couple ivf fails and now have a bmi of over 30 & also struggle with weight loss. I therefore made the decision to try mounjaro but had it made very clear to me that I must not have any treatment or even TTC naturally whilst on it - it is untested for the affects on eggs / embryos / pregnancies.
They could interfere with the eggs that are collected, and could cause deformities etc, totally not worth the risk when every egg is so precious in this process.

I would either suggest not doing them or putting the ivf on hold until you have lost the weight you want.
i have been advised 3-6 months clear of taking MJ before starting treatment again to ensure it is out of my system.

I’m in the same boat kind of. I am planning an august frozen transfer as I was advised I need to take a high dose of folic acid for 3 months for some reason. Now that it isn’t until August I’m wondering if I can do another month on wegovy to shed a bit more as my bmi is 29.9! I read that it is 2 months atleast

Thanks for the replies @Oneforthe @Scoobywho24

Just to update, I did a bit more research online about this.

It looks like the main issue with taking these drugs when you have an egg collection under sedative is to do with the fact that they cause food to move through your digestive system at a slower rate.

It can increase the risk of gagging/ choking when you have the sedative, as you might still have something in your stomach even if you've fasted for the recommended time.

So, you really should make sure it's at least 1 month out of your system before you have the egg collection.

I'm having an egg collection early September and I've been taking mounjaro for a month now. It's already brought my BMI down to a healthier 28.5, which is much better all around for pregnancy.

I plan to keep taking it until late July and then stop so I am at least a month clear before the egg collection (2+ months clear before embryo transfer as I'm having a freeze-all cycle).

I'm also on the lowest dose - 2.5mg - and not planning to increase as it's working well.

I'm hoping this will be best of both worlds as I'll be a slightly healthier BMI, but also won't have the drug in my system anymore.

I just thought I'd add a little update to this in case anyone else is searching. Had my first NHS IVF appointment today (north London hospital) I've been on mounjaro for 4 months to get BMI down to under 30 for treatment. Asked the consultant when I needed to stop and she was quite blasé about it. Just said I needed to stop before treatment started but was fine to continue whilst they were doing tests etc. I was expecting her to say at least 1-2 months off before treatment so quite pleased that things can happen a bit faster than expected.

Hi @IVFveteran

How much has it helped you lose? I need to lose weight before I start IVF and I'm hoping to start within the next 6 months if I can get my weight down! How long from once you started till you lost weight and how fast was it? I know depending on body type it is different for everyone but just to give an idea 😊

@chingachush Ive managed to lose 1.5 stone in 9 weeks, planning on doing one more pen to get another half stone which would mean 2 stone in 4 months.

BMI started at just under 30

If you do decide to give it a go I have a referral for VOY which gives you £85 off for new customers!

joinvoy.com/r/U-6cZ2NrwGm5

So far I've lost about 7kg and I'm on my 6th week. But I think a lot depends on your starting weight, body composition, activity levels etc so I don't know if that will really help you make a decision - everyone is different.

Just thought I'd come back and update here. I've been off the drug for 3 weeks and my egg collection will be in a week or two. My appetite is pretty much back to normal (annoyingly!) so it seems safe to assume the drug is out of my system. So, coming off it a month before egg collection seems like a safe margin.

@IVFveteran how did your transfer go?

@Cakeyspencer Very well thanks! I am pregnant! :)

For anyone else interested in the timescale for me -

I came off Mounjaro late July
Egg collection early September
Transfer in November
Pregnant in December!

Worth mentioning I was only on 5mg though and had only been on it for a couple of months.

If you are on a higher dose or have been on it for longer, it might need longer to get out of your system. I'd always say be careful if you're not sure and ask your doctor if you have any worries.

@IVFveteran congratulations! I’ve had back to back miscarriages so having a break whilst I PGT test my remaining embryos. I am not doing an egg collection but they still want a 3 month gap for transfer. I’ve just come off after 3 months on 5mg

Congratulations @IVFveteran!

I decided not to go ahead with a transfer in August but (stupidly) I thought you had to be off the drug 3 months before ‘pregnancy’ so unfortunately I put some weight back on over Xmas. Now taking meds for frozen transfer. Any tips you think helped? This will be my 3rd transfer, I’m scared 😭

@Scoobywho24 3 months is the official advice so not stupid at all! :) And really, I was off it for well over 3 months before I was actually pregnant. I came off it late July, and was pregnant in early December - so over 4 months - it was just the egg collection that was sooner. I came off it about 5 weeks before egg collection.

And as I said, it was a low dose I was on and not for very long.

Honestly though, the main thing I think made a difference in our case was PGTA testing the embryos. Well worth the money we spent on it!

I got pregnant with the first embryo transferred that was tested and came back normal, and I haven't been particularly anxious about miscarriage because I knew there were no chromosomal abnormalities. I'd highly recommend it if you have access/ can afford it.