Does weight affect IVF success rates?

Tulips29

I recently lost around 40 lbs, but still have a lot more to go. With the IUI cycles, injections, etc I ended up gaining about 10 lbs back and am hating myself. I'm also in the process of my first IVF cycle and planning on a transfer sometime in early April. My question is, how much does weight gain/loss affect IVF success rates? I am eating clean again and am trying to find as much time as possible to work out, but not sure how much more I can lose before the transfer. Anyone know or have any experience with this? I'm trying to increase my chances of having a successful transfer as much as possible. 

dragonfaerie

From everything I have read and heard from my doc, weight absolutely has an effect on fertility and healthy pregnancies. But rapid weight loss can also hurt you. If you are already in the process of IVF, I don't know how much it has to do with successful transfers. Sorry I can't be more help!

If you don't mind me offering this (I don't know if you have a gym membership,) there's a really cool Fit Challenge that I have done and I got a couple of friends to do as well that doesn't require a gym or any equipment. https://www.buzzfeed.com/sallytamarkin/take-the-get-fit-challenge has a workout regimen that only takes about 20 minutes a day, 4 days a week.

Best of luck!

Cmartin6706

My DW is overweight albeit healthy including blood pressure, hormones and other blood work. She has been in ketosis for over four month bc our RE recommended it. Our clinic and recent studies have had seriously good success with women who are in ketosis bc it reduces inflammation therefore improving implantation. We stopped worrying about weight and got on this diet plan. She only lost about ten pounds although a lot of people lose a lot on it but we reminded ourselves that wasn't the reason for doing ketosis. 

**success mentioned

We are awaiting our beta numbers. We've had strong htps for five days. 

Tulips29

@dragonfaerie thank you for the tip, I'll check it out! I do have a gym membership and trying to go a few times a week now until the transfer. Hoping it'll help somehow. I used to go 4 times a week until October, then I moved and fell off the wagon  

dragonfaerie

@Tulips29 It's hard to work out when you have a lot going on! But just keep your chin up and remember that every little bit helps!

Tulips29

@Cmartin6706 Interesting...what is ketosis? I've never heard of it. 

@dragonfaerie thank you! 

KLake42

Don't drive yourself crazy worrying about weight.  The biggest impact weight has is on ovulation, and it sounds like you've done that, and you're focusing on a transfer, right?

A crash weight loss right now could hurt you, with the stress it would put on your body.  It would probably benefit you most to focus on stress management, moving your body (with exercise that feels good), and nourishing your body with colorful veggies. 

I am personally losing a little weight in hopes that it helps me with my next IVF in May.  I'm not usually a fan of the weight loss industry, but I feel good about being on Weight Watchers right now.  It's a moderate weight loss plan (1 pound a week goal), where you eat a variety of food (anything, really, with a focus on portion control).  The plan is pushing me to eat veggies and fruit, and to go to the gym (if I have a good workout, I can eat more food, and I sure love food!), and it's really helping.  One month in, and I'm 6 pounds down, and exercising daily (sometimes just long walks or yoga, and sometimes hitting the elliptical and weights and really sweating).  I'm less bloated, and better yet, I'm feeling significantly less stress, and am sleeping better.

I don't know if it will work (my realistic goal is to move from the vague BMI category of "obese" down to just "overweight"), but it's the best thing I can be doing for myself.

Anyway, it's a good, nutritionally sound, sane program, especially if you're already in the habit of leaning on whole, unprocessed foods.  I've lost the weight I gained on my last IVF cycle, and I'm hopefully getting the tools to keep from really gaining weight (I know bloat is inevitable) with my next cycle.  I'm praying that it helps me with the stress, too.

Oh, and I'm not a promoter of WW.  It's definitely not perfect.  I just think it's a useful tool.

Cmartin6706

Here is an article from our RE: https://www.cnyfertility.com/2016/01/benefits-of-saturated-fats/

dragonfaerie

@KLake42 I'm so glad that you've had success and are feeling better! That's so important! FX for you in your next cycle!

Tulips29

@KLake42 I also believe in moderation, but then I get these crazy urges for things to work fast fast fast and go on diet binges. I know it's not healthy so I'm stopping all of that and focusing more on healthy weight loss. As of this morning, no more bread/pasta/bad carbs for me. I'm going to eat lean meats/veggies/fruits for the most part. I don't ovulate on my own anyway, so hoping the transfer isn't affected by the weight. I'm just trying to do everything possible for it to work. GL to you on your next cycle in May! 

Tulips29

@Cmartin6706 some lunch break reading, thanks!  

KLake42

@Cmartin6706-- that's excellent info!

And it reminded me that I wanted to mention one of the ways I tweak the WW programs.  WW sort of penalizes saturated fats, assigning a lot more points to coconut oil than olive oil.  I ignore that, and treat olive oil and coconut oil the same, and use them both regularly.

Also!  I don't have the link at hand, but low fat/nonfat dairy isn't so great for women trying to get pregnant.  Full fat dairy, on the other, boosts fertility.

ZoeFer

@Tulips29 I have no idea about the effects of weight loss. I just wanted to say that I am very happy to hear that things are moving along  for you and you are going to have your transfer soon ! Did you have your retrieval already ? Best of luck and looking forward to reading your good news  

Tulips29

Hi @ZoeFer, thank you for your well wishes. I only started birth control on Friday. Once I finish that, I go in for monitoring mid-March. Then I believe there's 2-3 weeks of injections and retrieval will follow them. I'm meeting with my IVF coordinator tomorrow to sign all consent paperwork and go over the preliminary schedule. Knock on wood all goes according to the schedule and I'll be ready for the transfer sometime in April  

mskeenan

Hey there ! You are not alone ! I was in great shape and at a good weight before starting my fertility treatments . I'm now overweight probably by about 30 lbs . The hormonal ups and downs have really caused my weight to fluctuate . It's so hard . Even when I eat very well I've been gaining gaining gaining . Whatever you do , don't beat yourself up over it . The best we can do is make an effort to make healthier choices . As others have mentioned .. Making huge changes while going through this wouldn't be good for your body . 

Tulips29

@mskeenan I hate that the fertility treatments are taking such a toll on us! I'm sure you worked so hard to be in good shape and be healthy to only get thrown off the wagon by the treatments. It makes me angry, honestly. Like, we're already going through so much, must the weight gain be part of the deal?! Ugh! 

Cmartin6706

Here's another good read from our RE about ketosis:https://www.cnyfertility.com/2015/12/beyond-weight-loss-a-review-of-the-therapeutic-uses-of-very-low-carbohydrate-ketogenic-diets/

Angelic789

Hi, Tulips29!

You know, there are more and more studies that are showing that BMI can have an impact on fertility treatments. A good friend of mine is obese. She has gone through IVF twice. The first time failed, the second time they were successful.

She lost 50 pounds in between the two. Having less weight meant an easier egg retrieval and fewer days of stims. It also means that your body is just less stressed because there is less weight.

I am not saying that the weight was the TOTAL factor, but I know it certainly helped. Their only diagnosis was PCOS. So I qualify this statement for women who have other fertility diagnoses, like endometriosis. Losing the weight will definitely help you in the long run. I really believe there is a link between BMI and fertility treatments.

 I don't think doctors tell you to lose weight to preserve their success rates. They tell you because you are more likely to be less successful with more weight and because they want you to be healthier. I really wish you all the best!

 I pray you take this in love as I truly mean it to be!!

twomommiestobe

There are some DRs that won't even begin treatments until you are under a certain BMI. I have seen quite a few ladies here that have been trying to reach that goal, so they can start. 

Tulips29

Thanks everyone for the insight! 

@Angelic789 I appreciate your story. I also have PCOS. The story about your friend hits home, because I worry that I'll have to go through multiple IVF cycles. I've also heard that losing weight may help me with regulating my cycles in general and overall helping down the road. I don't take this lightly, so I've been working on myself for some time now. The rest is out of my hands.