Weight and IVF

[Bloom]

Does anyone know how much weight affects IVF success rates? I've seen some pretty shocking statistics but I'm hoping that these statistics might be also moderated by how healthy you are generally.

I'm big but I'm muscly and exercise 4-5 times per week... I'm still obese but somewhat healthy...

I'm also wondering if the F.S. will refuse to do IVF until I lose the weight? That is my big fear... has this happened to anyone out there brave enough to admit it?

TIA

[AngelPunks]

when DH & I were looking into it, I was told by my FS that I needed to lose weight, it wasn't that he *wouldn't* do ivf if I was the weight I was, but he'd prefer me to be within a certain range.

Good luck with it all!

[sushee]

As my infertility isn't weight related, I didn't believe I needed to lose weight to fall pg. I was advised by my clinic though that there were drs who consulted for the clinic who would not take on overweight patients, even if their infertility wasn't weight related, but there were ones who did not exclude for weight. So I called around to the ones who didn't exclude overweight patients, and found my wonderful FS.

While some patients can increase their chances of success with weight loss, notably PCOS sufferers, not all patients need to lose weight to fall pg. My FS never blinked an eye over my weight, and in fact told me to stop dieting when it started to mess with my cycles.

[Bloom]

Thanks for your posts Punkin and Sushee - I really appreciate your input! I was hoping that becuase our only diagnosed problem is with DH's swimmers that my weight won't impact too much (as I don't *think* I have PCOS or similar - blood test pending). Okay, I will go to appointment and try to look skinner! : ) I wonder if he will ask what I weight as I do look smaller than I weigh...

I feel like an nincompoop for not trying harder to loose weight earlier! Doh!

[Kmn]

Given that Melbourne IVF state "Losing even a small amount of weight (around five to seven kilograms) has been shown to result in improvements in ovulation rates and pregnancy", I think that being big and healthy has got to be a lot better than being big and unhealthy.

[~Aveta~]

ruth, according to the BMI, at 59kg/162cm i was a "healthy" weight...the photos of me at that time, stressed from four years of ex-husband stalking me, show me as skinny, breastless, dull haired, and gaunt. at 64kg, my preferred weight (size 12) the BMI says i'm overweight. at BMX state titles, the year i won fourth place at forty, the BMI said i was overweight at 67kg of muscle from hard training. i was a size 10. at the moment, with weight on from 2 m/c so far this year, it says i'm obese. i still fit a size 12-14. go figure.
the BMI doesn't take frame and body type into account, so i say if you can't pick up love handles on yourself, you're doing ok!