I don’t qualify for IVF due to BMI

As the title says, I don’t qualify for ivf due to my bmi being 46. I need to loose 40-50kg to be able to be in the category for IVF and was told to come back when I loose weight. I have received no support from the doctors, if I could loose that amount of weight, I wouldn’t be overweight right now. Has anyone else experienced this? What did you do to loose weight? Small edit for info - I have PCOS, but all my tests have come back clear, as well as a scan of my ovaries which doesn’t show and visible signs of pcos anymore. My husband has low sperm count and I’m based in the UK
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Mounjaro zepbound wegovy ozempic. Or find a new dr that isnt fat phobic bc pregnancy is possible for big girls That said i am on mounjaro for going on 6 months now and i have lost 52 lbs. I have 35 more to go before i try for another baby

I was in the same boat but luckily I fell naturally and 3rd time lucky for us it was a viable pregnancy. But we was looking at just going private or accept we wouldn't have children. X

That’s really tough. If it was so easy, we wouldn’t be where we are right? My best advice would be to drastically increase you water consumption, try and not drink any calories otherwise. Start the day with protein, healthy carb and lots of veg. Makes vegetables the star of every meal (half your plate) and try to move more each day. Simple walking will do the trick. Or go with whatever form of exercise you enjoy. Key is to make the change something sustainable to you.

I saw fertility doctor privately, and he referred me to fertility nutritionist. She did load blood to see what vitamins i am lacking and then given a strict food plan and suppliment plan. It worked for me i was successful in losing 3 stone with 6 months.

I had the gastric bypass (best decision I ever made), ended up not needing fertility treatments—my LO is 6 months now, well 7 months tomorrow.

@Jessie hi Jessie, was this in the UK? Can you share details

I’m sorry - it’s so difficult that there’s an assumption a bigger lady can’t fall pregnant safely or have a healthy baby. I think a calorie deficit would be a really good place to start. You can use a calculator online to work out how many calories you can eat daily to ensure you’re in a calorie deficit eg burning off more than you’re consuming. Like others have said, drinking more calorie free fluids can help you feel full, and also gentle exercise like walking and swimming so it’s low impact but still raises your heart rate. Good luck!

@Heather I know! The problem is I live with my In-laws who are strict vegetarians and due to being so unhappy with my living situation I’ve just been comfort eating

Maybe they are suggesting because sometimes infertility could be due to weight so maybe they are thinking to get to a healthier weight and try then and you wouldn’t even need ivf. But I’m starting to watch my carbs and sugar intake and starting to exercise

Apologies i should’ve clarified, the infertility is due to my husbands sperm count

That’s really tough. I totally get it. I had a BMI higher than you and I was able to get pregnant within six months naturally. I was also 37 at the time. Not sure how long you’ve been trying but it might be possible without the IVF too! Cheering you on!!

@Heather I am going to be 37 in November We’ve been trying about a year now and they believe we’ve not conceived due to my husbands low sperm count

I dedicated my life to losing weight for IVF.. I paid for an online training programme which included managing my diet, calories, macros etc and a resistance training exercise programme on an app with weekly check ins and managing whatever was needed by the coach. I lost 3stone in 6 months. I just fully committed to it, trained 3 X a week getting up early before work, working out at the campsite on holiday, planned my meals around Gin & Tonics for the evening if that's what's I wanted (big portion of white fish for the protein and rest of cals for gin! 😜) It took real commitment but was worth it. I also have pcos and I was 34 at the time. I didn't need to as we went private, but I wanted to get in the best possible shape so no one could blame it on that.

@Rachel that’s amazing Rachel! Well done, so proud of you. Which online program did you use?

Hi, yes, it was UK because i was refused so much my nhs and no help with losing weight. I referred myself privately and paid. Same as Rachel, I paid for fertility nutritionist and she was very helpful, I managed to fall on naturally, and i am 23 weeks pregnant. Didn't need to go down route of ivf.

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My BMI was over 30 when we started but I was able to get IVF because we went privately. Having said that, my doctor still wanted me to lose weight before starting as lowering your BMI does increase your chances of success (and the drugs tend to make you gain weight). Even private clinics will have a cut-off number, although it’s likely to be higher than the NHS limit. If going private is not an option, my advice would be to seek help with weight loss from your GP as there are new medications which can help. Personally I found intermittent fasting to be helpful, but it’s pretty tricky to stick to and not for everyone.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063495936260 Jake McArthur Coaching We're currently 32+4 pregnant from our 3rd round of ICSI xx

@Rachel I am so happy for you! Congratulations 🙏🏽🙏🏽

Thanks love. I wish you the best of luck too. I highly recommend Jake and the plan, I felt like me.again

Hi there. I started on NHS IUI’s, 6 goes of them then 1 round of IVF. When I first started my BMI was bang on 30, was told to lose weight, I lost 1 and a half stone, BMI 28, very quickly and very unhealthily (do not recommend) all throughout the process, EVERY single appointment I had, they would weigh me, and not privately, directly in front of the waiting room, all the other women I saw would go straight through (no weighing). These were all private patients, (I knew this as the payment desk was in the waiting room also, so I could hear everything). In my personal experience, I really felt quite attacked, like they took one look at me and just HAD to measure my weight. This has taken quite a toll on my mental health and my eating habits. I’m still not at the end of the journey either so I have to just put up with it. I do not want you to have the same experience, and I’m not saying that you would, maybe my clinic is just a tad nit-picky. Best of luck and don’t be hard on yourself ❤️❤️

@Sarah that's awful of them!!! I'm sorry you experienced this x

@Rachel thank you, I will be glad to see the end of it. Hopefully with a positive outcome. And a very well done on your journey! X

@Sarah I am so sorry darling. You did not deserve this at all. I feel that my doc wasn’t insensitive, but either way such a high bmi there is not much choice I have right now other than loosing weight

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