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BMI too high for IVF success… I need more willpower to lose weight
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BMI too high for IVF success… I need more willpower to lose weight

  1. <span  class="bbp-author-name">Petra Sullivan</span>
    Petra Sullivan

    Hello everyone,

    I have a problem with my weight to undergo IVF… As you know, the higher it is, the lower the IVF success rate will be. And the problem here is that I can’t find my own willpower to lose weight as my OB/GYN has strongly recommended to me…

    I’m 5’2” and I weight 167 pounds… therefore, my BMI is 30.44. I’m overweight, I’ve assumed it and I know I should lose weight to achieve my goal of getting pregnant.

    Apart from that, my husband and I have been TTC for over 2 years without success, so we decided to do some fertility tests to check whether there was any extra problem. The result was that I lack ovulation and as if this were not enough he’s got a low sperm count.

    So we know we have no choice now but to resort to a fertility treatment. I’ve been carrying this load well to some extent ever since, but the problem, as I said, is my weight. I can stand we have to resort to IVF, but I don’t know if I’ll manage to follow any diet… I hate vegetables for example 🙁

    Anyway, this clash is nothing new and I think that’s the reason why I’m tired of all this. When I started visiting assisted reproduction specialists, my doctor told me I should lose 22 pounds. God knows I sweated blood to get it and finally I lost 15 pounds… not as expected, but almost. I was absolutely joyful for my next appointment since I thought she would tell me I was ready to start my IVF cycle, but then she told me I should lose a total amount of 33 pounds! And that’s where I’m to date. I find this insane as I think I won’t ever achieve so. I’m so anxious that I can’t stop eating now and I have my next appointment on October, 22nd and I know I won’t be allowed to start the treatment since not only I haven’t lost any weight but I gained even more of it.

    Anyone giving me a kind piece of advice? Please, help me find the willpower…

    Lots of babydust.

    09/29/2015 at 5:23 pm
    Reply
  2. Dear Petra,

    I am very sorry about that, but you should try to change the perspective from torture to better health in general.

    You should not see losing weight as an obligation to start with IVF, since there is scientific evidence that women whose BMI is too high have lower IVF success rates. By losing weight you don’t only get more chances of getting pregnant but also improve your general health state. IVF works in 40% attempts, but having a too-high BMI only diminishes this percentage.

    Having a BMI of 25 is the figure recommended by experts. However, if it’s slightly higher than 26 or even 28 as a maximum you can still resort to assisted reproductive technology. Therefore, losing weight is recommended in cases where the BMI is above 28. If you can’t find the willpower, it creates feelings of anxiety in you and you are keen to start the treatment , seeing a nutritionist may be helpful.

    Best of luck!

    09/30/2015 at 5:50 pm
    Reply
  3. Hi Petra,

    I really appreciate the things that help you to build the things that matters for you. I understand the isssue of TTC and IVF. I went through several issues and several surgeries. It takes long time to get what it means to you.

    Keep going.

    09/21/2017 at 8:05 am
    Reply
  4. There’s definitely a link between the BMI and fertility treatment. I was also not the the ”samllest” one. With my 12 stone 7lbs it was necessary to get rid off the extra lbs before ivf. I worked hard to achieve this aim. Then I’ve got another example. A close friend of mine lost 52 pounds in between two cycles. Having less weight meant an easier egg retrieval and fewer days of stims. Losing the weight definitely helps in the long run. We were adviced to use donor eggs, ’cause mine weren’t going to work. My amh was 3% only which is too low to count on. We got bfp from shot#1. Quite unexpectedly after all the strugglings I should say. We expected it’d take us more than one, but thankfully were lucky with 1 only. I’m wishing yu the best on your way. This work is always hard. Don’t give up and keep on moving!

    08/15/2018 at 1:43 pm
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  5. I’m sorry you’re facing this. A woman’s fitness can impact her chances of a successful pregnancy with IVF -it’s a well known fact. I thought i need to share this info~Women who fall far outside what’s considered the normal range in body mass index (BMI) – either very under- or overweight – are likely to have a reduced probability of pregnancy with IVF. Abnormal weight can disrupt hormonal function and timely ovulation. making it more difficult to become pregnant in natural cycles. Your BMI is calculated from your height and weight. If your BMI is between 25 and 29.9, you are considered overweight. A BMI of 30.0 or greater is considered obese. If you are extremely underweight with a BMI below 18.5, you may have insufficient energy reserves for pregnancy. I hope so much you’ll find ways to improve your situation soon. All the very best ahead.

    12/12/2018 at 11:16 am
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