Taking a break... and a question :(

MBfromBMC · April 2011

After we found out the IUI #3 was a BFN, DH and I sat down and had a conversation about how to proceed.

We both are a little nervous about IVF right now. Each BFN hurts so much more than the one before it, I think it would kill us if we got a really devastating, really expensive BFN with IVF. We also do not have the money for it.

DH is apparently taking these Clomid/IUI cycles harder than I thought, as well. He really hurts after each BFN and he really, kind of irrationally, hates providing "samples."

He is not, however, even close to ready to start talking about adoption. He really, really did not want to cycle this month, so I let it go for now. I also didn't feel like working appointments into my work schedule right now since they are treating me so poorly at the moment. I figured we might as well wait until the school year winds down and I have total schedule freedom before we cycle again.

Now, here's the question: lay it on me honestly. I am definitely working on losing weight right now, but it is happening really slowly. I am also working on a realistic workout routine and I am buying an elliptical this week. My RE mentioned that obesity can affect your fertility and right now we are totally unexplained. I have been googling, but I am curious what you have heard from your REs. How much is my weight really part of this problem? My RE didn't seem to think that it was the cause, but she did mention it. WDYT? Any other girls dealing with the same question?

thebeadinglady · April 2011

This is what my RE has told me about weight and fertility (remember every doctor has a different opinion on this). He says that weight can prevent you from ovulating regularly (something to do with obese women producing more estrogen (or something like that)). However, once you add in the fertility drugs and treatments and if you are being monitored correctly then weight isn't going to factor in much. Being overweight shouldn't prevent you from getting pregnant with ART. However, he still requires a BMI under 40 for IVF because it is safer for anesthesia. He also said pregnancy can be complicated for obese women so he encourages his overweight patients to try and get healthier before getting pregnant. He says healthier, not necessarily skinnier.

thebeadinglady · April 2011

Oh, and i am so sorry you are in this position hun! I hope the break does you some good. (((hugs)))

ecleptic · April 2011

The question seems to be- how overweight are you. (Obviously you need not answer) Studies show that obesity (as opposed to simply being overweight) can impair fertility. A quick google brought this up

https://www.ivfnewsdirect.com/?p=226

IVF is relevant to the question more because so many factors can be controlled than because you're considering IVF. With IVF an obese or morbidly obese patient without any other factors can acquire a normal number of embryos which follow the same curve of typical development as an average person. The implantation rate, however, is slightly lower. So even if all other factors are perfect- even with the most lovely genetically perfect blastocyst available- the rates of pregnancy will be lower.

The question, if you fall into that category, then becomes: Are you wiling to take the lowered chance. Knowing that even with a lowered chance- your odds may be better than a patient with DOR or another complicated diagnosis.

I fall into that category and my husband and I, while capable of paying for more IVF cycles, have chosen to do only two before taking a break to lose weight. I hope it will be unnecessary- not because I hate the idea of losing weight but because we've already waited 2 years and the thought of waiting 3 or 4 is pretty heartbreaking.

If you've got an extra 20 pounds, losing the weight can't hurt but it's probably not going to put you into the obese group. If you have quite a bit more than that to lose, then taking a break to lose weight if you have very limited resources might be the best option. Only you can know exactly how you weigh that risk.

MBfromBMC · April 2011

thebeadinglady:

This is what my RE has told me about weight and fertility (remember every doctor has a different opinion on this). He says that weight can prevent you from ovulating regularly (something to do with obese women producing more estrogen (or something like that)). However, once you add in the fertility drugs and treatments and if you are being monitored correctly then weight isn't going to factor in much. Being overweight shouldn't prevent you from getting pregnant with ART. However, he still requires a BMI under 40 for IVF because it is safer for anesthesia. He also said pregnancy can be complicated for obese women so he encourages his overweight patients to try and get healthier before getting pregnant. He says healthier, not necessarily skinnier.

I have read and heard this before, too, and I was not having ovulation or cycling problems even before ART. I have also read recently, though, that overweight women have lower chances of success even if they do not have ovulation and cycling problems. I know that I really need to do this for my health no matter what, but it is so hard to know just how much it is actually affecting my fertility...

MBfromBMC · April 2011

ecleptic:

The question seems to be- how overweight are you. (Obviously you need not answer) Studies show that obesity (as opposed to simply being overweight) can impair fertility. A quick google brought this up

https://www.ivfnewsdirect.com/?p=226

IVF is relevant to the question more because so many factors can be controlled than because you're considering IVF. With IVF an obese or morbidly obese patient without any other factors can acquire a normal number of embryos which follow the same curve of typical development as an average person. The implantation rate, however, is slightly lower. So even if all other factors are perfect- even with the most lovely genetically perfect blastocyst available- the rates of pregnancy will be lower.

The question, if you fall into that category, then becomes: Are you wiling to take the lowered chance. Knowing that even with a lowered chance- your odds may be better than a patient with DOR or another complicated diagnosis.

I fall into that category and my husband and I, while capable of paying for more IVF cycles, have chosen to do only two before taking a break to lose weight. I hope it will be unnecessary- not because I hate the idea of losing weight but because we've already waited 2 years and the thought of waiting 3 or 4 is pretty heartbreaking.

If you've got an extra 20 pounds, losing the weight can't hurt but it's probably not going to put you into the obese group. If you have quite a bit more than that to lose, then taking a break to lose weight if you have very limited resources might be the best option. Only you can know exactly how you weigh that risk.

Thanks for the input. I know that this is something that I really need to do, IF or no IF. I think this break is a good opportunity for me to really work a lot harder on that goal. I can continue to cycle with Clomid in a month or two, but before we consider anything more drastic, I would like to be down at least 50 lbs. Thanks for helping me think this through and come up with a goal!

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