NHS IVF BMI

[SKS_1]

Hi, my turn has finally come to start my IVF cycle next month. However we have been waiting a year and I have gained weight.

I was not weighed at my nurses consultation but wondering will they weigh me before my cycle starts or during?

I’m panicking incase I can’t lose enough by the time I start in a few weeks.

[LucyEmme]

Hi there. I have also finally started my first IVF round after 13 months of waiting. When I went for a screening blood test,they weighed me,did my BMI and took my blood pressure. They weighed me a couple of weeks before I started my protocol. I'm in Leeds but I'm sure they will weigh you soon as they have to make sure your BMI is under 30. If it isn't,NHS funding is denied as the success rate tends to be lower with high BMI. (That's what I've been told anyway.) I dont know what the requirements are if you're a private patient though. Also the clinic is there to support you,so give them a call. They will be able to give you advice and help with any questions you have.

Hope this helps. And good luck.

[TopGuntastic]

I understand from experience that it’s a long wait and a struggle to keep under BMI 30 with the pressure of fertility issues. Unfortunately to qualify for NHS funded ivf you have to meet the criteria and it will be checked before treatment begins. Your clinic should issue you a guide to your protocol and talk you through what happens including when BMI checks are done. Depending how much you’ve to lose you could still make it or only need to delay a month or two. I’ve found slimming world really helpful and effective. Good luck xx

[Twiglet2]

BMI is normally checked when you are starting your cycle at our clinic (consent forms and any final bloods or injections given away, if you are over they won’t start you and our clinic say come back in 3 months.

We are also weighed again just before egg collection (although this one is for the anethitist for sedation rather than to make sure you can still go ahead ) so they’ve said not to worry about that one to me before xx

[Bexarama83]

unlike the other ladies here, I wasn’t weighed at all throughout treatment, despite my first few rounds being nhs. Having now got to 14 weeks pregnant, my bmi is over 30 and may cause some problems down the line. So I would try and get it below 30 if possible even if they aren’t going to weigh you. I was 29.3 when I started treatment but I put on weight through my 6 cycles so I’m now just over 31. Good luck for your treatment! xxx

[Maariah6]

I started ivf back in December 2022 nhs funded I didn’t get weight at all throughout my treatment.

[Hidden]

hi SKS

My weight was checked at nearly every appointment I went in for - so initial AMH test, ART appointment, consent forms and then on the first day of the cycle. It may depend clinic to clinic - we were private but in an NHS clinic so they used the NHS criteria and tests on everyone. I found it a bit unsettling at every appointment and asked was it really necessary and they insisted it was standard and yes it would happen each time.

Great news for you that you are nearly at the end of your wait and about to treat treatment. I hope it all goes well for you x

[ChelWestie]

I was NHS funded and did one cycle with two FET and my weight was never a topic, my BMI did go over 30 during the process. I was weighed once at the start and expected to get a warning but it was never brought up and I was never weighed again.

I did get gestation diabetes in pregnancy and would recommend controlling your weight for greater success rate. I guess it differs by hospital

[SKS_1]

thank you for all your replies ladies, appreciate you sharing your experiences. I am really worried I won’t be able to lose and if I go on an extreme very low calorie diet, it could affect my body negatively before going for treatment. Annoyed at myself for getting in this situation.

[Darcy1996 in reply to SKS_1]

please don’t berate yourself, you’ve enough stress starting your cycle. Fingers crossed you’ll be fine, sounds like lots of clinics vary with their requirements…and BMI is BS

[Positive20]

My BMI isn’t a problem and in the 3.5 years of having IVF they only weighed me once but I don’t know if this is because I’m slim so it was clear my BMI hadn’t changed. Xx