IVF and being overweight

georgia-gal · #1 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 06:46 PM

Hi ladies and gents. i am new to this board, been lurking for a couple of weeks and i have been rutting you all on silently.

I do have a question for any of you that had to lose weight or maybe started out at not the ideal weight.

I am 5'8 and weight 210lbs, YICKS!! I see my RE on 16 Jul and i have already changed my eating habits and see the scale moving down ward. YEAH. I want be 200lb before i next meet with her and down to 185/190 before next ivf cycle. Mind you my RE had not mention that i need to lose weight, but i saw in some pamplets they gave me that the optimum conception weight for my height is between 145 and 185. They will not do it if i weight more than 243lbs.

By the way my first attempt at IVF a few weeks ago was cancelled do to low response.

Has anyone been successful w/ IVF while overweight, are there any statistics, i already have advanced age as a factor and i dont want weight to be a factor even if that means i need to hold off for another month to get the weight off. I have been successful in the past losing weight when i had a good reason and this is certainly a good reason.

Staciewi · #2 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 07:23 PM

well I will just call you Georgia since I dont know your first name

It sounds like you are on the right track as far as the weight loss....CONGRATS on that!

I think being an optimal weight will only increase your chances at a successful cycle. Plus you will feel better knowing you did everything you could to improve your odds.

Are they upping your meds next round?

Welcome and I look forward to getting to know you better!!

jamielynn0021 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 09:01 PM

I know they *recommend* weight loss for obvious reasons but I know two different women who have had successful cycles and where overweight. Good luck and keep us posted!

Star622 · #4 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 09:54 PM

I wasn't at my ideal weight or even close. Although I wasn't an ivf success story, I did conceive naturally after 4 failed fresh if cycles so my weight wasn't an issue, imo.

I'm older as well, and I'd say being and shape and closer to your ideal weight will help for after your baby arrives.

Good luck!

Dana30 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 05:34 AM

I was a size 22 when I did my IVF cycle. My RE never mentioned my weight. My first and only IVF cycle resulted in my 19 month old twins. Then, 5 months later, I got preggo on my own with a very cute, very much loved surprise! In my experience, weight was not an issue. And I was 5'11 and weighed way more than you!

Good Luck!

want2beamommy13 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 06:29 AM

Hey Georgia gal............I worry about this too. I am NOT at an ideal weight and after numerous cycles over the last 3 years, its just gotten worse! I've put on close to 30 pounds, mostly because I felt sorry for myself and consoled myself w/ food (and shopping...lol!) BUT the reason I wanted to put my 2 cents in here is becuase though I dont think your weight is a DIRECT reflection of IVF success, I'm certainly sure that you're better off being at a healthy place......body and mind! And I wanted to offer the 'dont do what I did' becuase now I'm just in a HUGE hole thats going to be VERY hard to get out of and when I DO get pregnant, I'm going to pay for it I'm sure!

Although I hope your path ends up NOTHING like mine, I do encourage you and support your decision to eat right and get to a healthier weight for you. And I dont think there is a specific number that is associated with what YOU are comfortable with.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

georgia-gal · #7 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 08:28 AM

My name is Angela, sorry about that
I dont know what my protocal will be this time, i visit my RE on 16Jul08.

I am glad to know that it wasnt just my weight that blew my last cycle.

But i agree w/ everyone that a healthy start weight could lead to a healthier pregnancy.

Whew, I agree want2beamommy, the weight gain is horrible during this process and i have had enough pitty parties w/ cake, pies and chocolate to know that.

Let me give you my stats.

I turned 42 last month, DH is 44 (married 3 years in Aug08)
this will be my 1st, his 2nd
ttc (to be honest only 8 months) because of my age we dont have time to waste
Fertility testing in jan08, advance age of mother only factor, unexplained infertility
iui + clomid Mar 08 BFN
iui + clomid Apr 08 BFN
ivf attemp Jun08 cancelled low response.

Weight loss is going well have lost 4lbs as of this morning. I do power walk for 45 min ea evening with 3lbs weights, lots of lunges on the way. I figure i wont get started w/ another cycle until mid to end Aug so i have time to lose at least 20lbs

Tkeys · #8 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 08:48 AM

I was also overweight for IVF, and it was successful. At my wedding, I was not technically at my ideal weight, but I was maybe 10 lbs away, and wearing a size 8, so I was comfortable with my weight. While ttc, I put on 25 lbs (so that made me maybe 35 lbs over the upper end of my "ideal" weight). My size 12s were getting tight, and I had to go out and buy some 14s

. I was really worried that my weight was going to be an issue. The dr never said a word to me about my weight, and we did get our

. Ironically, I've lost some weight SINCE getting pregnant, so now I"m having delusions that the baby will burn off all my excess fat, and even though I'll get big, I won't get FAT during this pregnancy, and that post-pregnancy, I'll magically come home weighing less than I did when I started IVF, and then only have the 20 lbs of fat I gained ttc to lose. What?? It can happen! It happens to skinny people all the time!

Anyway, my point is I was terrified about getting pregnant when I was already so overweight, and that my body would never recover and I'd never get back to a healthy weight again. I'm now almost 15 weeks, and I'm still down maybe 6 or 7 lbs, so I'm really feeling hopeful that starting out overweight will not be a detriment to me post-partum. Hope that helps!

Losing weight, or at least eating healthy, certainly can only help, but don't put yourself in a panic over it. Do your best to be healthy, and the rest should fall into place. Congratulations on what you've accomplished so far!