BMI when starting treatment

[Mlove12]

So I’m worried my BMI will be over 30 when I start IVF. They asked for height and weight which I gave them via email (ive already had one round and they weighed me at my last egg collection around 7 weeks ago, both cycles NHS funded) but I’m now worried that my weight is actually more than when I last weighed myself and that they will stop my treatment mid ivf cycle. As far as I know my bmi was around 28.5 last time but not actually sure.

I start noritherone next weekend and I’m worried that at my scan after starting stims they will weight be and cancel treatment if bmi is over 30.

I’m sure ivf has definitely made me gain weight so I’m just worried all the meds won’t allow me to lose any from now on either!

Has anyone else had experience with this or similar?

x

[Boo718]

please don’t go crazy diet to make sure your bmi is lower. I lost a heap of weight before ivf and was told it was actually the worst thing I could have done as it had messed up all the hormone levels. If you can speak to your doctor about your concerns maybe they can give u some advice xxx

[blue_anemone]

BMI is such a stupid metric, because you can absolutely have a low BMI on a shitty diet and be undernourished. So, I would be more concerned about looking what your diet is like, and make any necessary improvements, rather than focusing on lowering the BMI. Diet can absolutely have an incredible impact on your fertility.

And mainstream dietary guidelines are largely garbage. I highly recommend the book “Real food for pregnancy” by Lily Nichols. She’s also been on podcasts, so you can have a listen to what she has to say before buying the book, and I believe she has some resources available on her website.

[liftinglady in reply to blue_anemone]

unfortunately nhs won’t allow IVF if your over 30bmi so sadly you can’t just be healthy which I think many just over 30 are you just have to tick their annoying box!

I’ve had to do it twice as gains a couple pounds on stims but it’s just what you need to do.

I do however agree BMI is redixulous I’m sure my boobs weigh a stone so if I was less blessed there I’d be A-OK.

Life

[Bella_Bee]

They will DEFINITELY not cancel mid treatment. I remember an nhs fertility nurse telling me they get concerned with 35+ but don't bat an eyelid at anything below that. The 30 thing is just a filter. You'll lose the weight when all the hormones are out of your system, don't worry. Or actually, when you have the baby. Hmmm.. ok maybe when the baby is three 😁 😅

[StarsAllAround]

The meds always make me put on weight. My last cycle was NHS my bmi was below the the NHS threshold for treatment when I started mid cycle when they weighted me again it had gone over the threshold. The nurse gave me a lecture about my weight made me cry and panicked me that they were going to cancel my treatment they weighted me at my next scan my weight was still over the threshold but the nurse that time said they don't cancel cycles when started just because of weight gain. Hopefully your clinic will be the same. Also this cycle was the heaviest I have been and was our successful one so I don't think being over weight will affect the outcome. Good luck 👍

[Zbez88]

I was just under 30 when I had my first nhs round, by the time they checked again for my second round which was 3 months after I was just over 30. They still went ahead with the round and I now have a 6 month old from it.

[Twiglet2]

I think it depends on the clinic/ ours was incredibly strict in nhs round even a smidge over 30 and they would pause for a month until you were back under. How ever they didn’t weigh you mid cycle just at the beginning of each cycle) m I would suggest weighing yourself to double check if you actually are over and have anything to worry about and if you are over by just a touch it can be as simple as wearing really light clothes to the appointment and not eating (or drinking) prior to it and eating healthy for the next week. If you are quite a bit over defo don’t yo yo diet as it could affect treatment so best to have a conversation with them x BMI is so stupid to use, I get why the nhs want a healthily patient for funding but this is so outdated 😥 I’m so sorry this is something else you have to worry about I’ve been there myself and the transfer I was at my highest BMI and didn’t eat or drink the morning of my first prep appointment to get to 29.5 was my successful transfer where as all the others under 27 didn’t work! Xx

[Mlove12 in reply to Twiglet2]

hey, thanks for replying. I just worry as they won’t actually weigh me at the beginning, theyve just asked for my weight (I don’t have scales atm so gave them my last weight) and then comparing to my last cycle, they don’t weigh me until my third scan which obviously I would have been on stimms for 10days already and norethirone. First scan if they did to it earliest is first scan and I would have been on stimms for 5 days then. But I’m reassured by people on this thread that they wont cancel mid cycle! They then weighed me before egg collection but I think this was for anaesthetic purposes.Thanks again for your reassurance  x

[Twiglet2 in reply to Mlove12]

that would be sooooooo rubbish of them to cancel mid cycle, I’ve never heard of that so hopefully not! I know I got weighed again whilst on stims for a fresh round but they told me it was for the anethitist to know how much sedation to give me rather than BMI (I did a worried face lol) and have never been weighed mid cycle for frozen transfers only ever right at the very start so hopefully that’s the case for you 🤗 xx

[IVFjourney1]

I don’t believe they will stop your treatment mid way though as long as your under 30 at the start. I had a recent experience when due to start 2nd cycle my BMI was exacautely 30 and they said I would need to lose a few pounds before I could start and then went for a another app and they said it needed to be below 29, it’s been quite frustrating with goal posts being changed and I have PCOS too, so I’m just trying my best and if it takes a bit longer to lose weight I’ve had to accept that’s okay, Good luck 🤞 x

[Mlove12 in reply to IVFjourney1]

hey, thanks for replying. I just worry as they won’t actually weigh me at the beginning, theyve just asked for my weight (I don’t have scales atm so have them my last weight) and then comparing my last cycle, they don’t weigh me until my third scan which obviously I would have been on stimms for 10days already and norethirone. But I’m reassured by people on this thread that they wont cancel mid cycle! They then weighed me before egg collection but I think this was for anaesthetic purposes.

Thanks again for your reassurance

[Ree_Laine]

Hey, my bmi is 29.2 and my clinic haven’t batted an eye lid regarding weighing me since starting stimming and throughout my scans. I’m also NHS funded and was so worried about them cancelling if I was slightly over . I do honestly think they do need to get rid of the whole BMI metrics. I have a sporty athletic build and to the eye I do not look overweight and have a higher muscle mass. Just keep on having a healthy balanced diet. Now I’m going through treatment there would be no way for me to lose any weight if I was putting it on because of the drugs as cardio and intense workouts are damaging to your ovaries whilst having treatment. You will be fine xx