Fertility Clinic - Bigger Women - Help?!

[Jenn95]

Hello everyone! So I know I put a post about how I'm trying one more at home IUI before I go to a fertility specialist. However, I am extremely worried about my visit! It is a privately owned clinic so I wouldn't THINK they have "weight restrictions"... but who knows?! I'm just wondering for all the bigger women out there (USA women because I know the U.K. Is much different and a lot more strict!! And I live in the USA anyway, obviously!) what was your experience going to a fertility clinic? How much did you weigh (or what was your BMI) and did they mention your wieght? Did they make you lose weight before TTC with their help? Not sure if it matters but I am a solo momma (using donor sperm obviously)
Thanks everyone! I appreciate any input!!

 

[Myshelsong]

I'm in Canada, private clinic and size 20-22 depending in the pant.
My doctor didn't mention anything about weight, which I was totally not expecting when we first went in there. There was no issue being large for my IUI or IVFs. But I have heard some clinics having cut offs for IVFs.

It also didn't play a factor in my loss this September, so I wouldn't be worried about that.
Good luck hun

 

[Jenn95]

I'm in Canada, private clinic and size 20-22 depending in the pant.
My doctor didn't mention anything about weight, which I was totally not expecting when we first went in there. There was no issue being large for my IUI or IVFs. But I have heard some clinics having cut offs for IVFs.

It also didn't play a factor in my loss this September, so I wouldn't be worried about that.
Good luck hun

Thank so very much Myshelsong! I truly appreciate you sharing your experience!! I am also size 22 in pants! Hopefully my weight won't be an issue! I will definitely update. Very nervous lol. Thank you again!!

 

[OnErth&InHvn]

For IUI it usually isnt a problem, its IVF that it is.


( size 18 here)

 

[lisap2008]

Here in the US the doctors generally tend not to turn women away for weight, my BMI was over 30 at my doctors and they did not say anything about it, But some doctors will recommend weight loss before starting TTC or especially before IVF for IUI they may not care about weight it just depends on the doctor.

 

[messica]

My clinic had specific parameters for both low and high BMI. If you were too low or too high you were required to hold off moving forward with treatment until you were within them. Being underweight it takes some 4 or 5 times the amount of time to conceive even under the best and most controlled of circumstances. Being overweight one can develop IR (insulin resistance). Left untreated IR can impact the ability to carry a pregnancy to term, avoid a pretty significant case of gestational diabetes, and breastfeed if you choose to. It usually effects estrogen levels too, which *can* (not always but commonly) result in a longer and more intense stimming process with less successful results, impacted fertilization rates, impaired overall embryo quality and trouble carrying a pregnancy to term.

They have an incredibly high success rate and as there is correlation between weight and conception rates on both ends of the spectrum I'm guessing that's why. You won't know if any clinics near you have those rules unless you check, and I'm sure they'll be kind and informative either way their answer falls. If you get a no, undoubtedly that would hurt, but remember at the end of the day their goal is to offer you every opportunity to succeed with the least amount of heartache and expense.

In my opinion, if a clinic is worth a hill of beans they won't simply ignore any condition that could impact your success.

 

[Jenn95]

Well ladies I am very upset and discouraged ☹️ The doctor I met with at the nearest fertility clinic to me said she won't proceed with ANY form of fertility help (even IUI) until I atleast drop another 70lbs!! I'm sooo heartbroken I could just cry for days at this point.

Thank you all for your kind and supportive words. I, however, am crushed

 

[lisap2008]

Well ladies I am very upset and discouraged ☹️ The doctor I met with at the nearest fertility clinic to me said she won't proceed with ANY form of fertility help (even IUI) until I atleast drop another 70lbs!! I'm sooo heartbroken I could just cry for days at this point.

Thank you all for your kind and supportive words. I, however, am crushed

So sorry to hear that , if you know your ovulating you could still try at home , or try another clinic .I replied to your other thread on home insemination.

 

[Myshelsong]

So sorry Hun, that is frustrating. Could you look for another fertility clinic?

 

[Cppeace]

Like I said in your other thread. I would say go the home insemination route for several more months.

 

[Jenn95]

Thank you very very much for all your replies!! Yes, I think I am going to go the route of at home insemination for a while. They made me feel like I'm a whale I'm unsure if I'm ovulating because today I was OFFICIALLY diagnosed with PCOS BUT!... my past three cycles have been 27 days like CLOCKWORK! So idk! I THINK I'm ovulating! Since my cycles are now so predictable! I will be using OPK's, CP, and CM to determine Ovulation. Today is CD7 I plan on trying this cycle! Forget the clinic. They are really only worried about their success rates... and for bigger women it's harder to get pregnant! And thank you lisap2008! I will go check over at my other post now! I appreciate the reply!!

 

[lisap2008]

Thank you very very much for all your replies!! Yes, I think I am going to go the route of at home insemination for a while. They made me feel like I'm a whale I'm unsure if I'm ovulating because today I was OFFICIALLY diagnosed with PCOS BUT!... my past three cycles have been 27 days like CLOCKWORK! So idk! I THINK I'm ovulating! Since my cycles are now so predictable! I will be using OPK's, CP, and CM to determine Ovulation. Today is CD7 I plan on trying this cycle! Forget the clinic. They are really only worried about their success rates... and for bigger women it's harder to get pregnant! And thank you lisap2008! I will go check over at my other post now! I appreciate the reply!!

So sorry they were so rude about it, did they do a ultrasound or blood work or are they just diagnosing PCOS based on symptoms and weight?
With your cycles becoming regular I believe your fertility has improved with the weight loss ,studies have shown an improvement in fertility with as little as 20 pound loss, sticking with a high protein nutrient rich diet can help too.

 

[Jenn95]

So sorry they were so rude about it, did they do a ultrasound or blood work or are they just diagnosing PCOS based on symptoms and weight?
With your cycles becoming regular I believe your fertility has improved with the weight loss ,studies have shown an improvement in fertility with as little as 20 pound loss, sticking with a high protein nutrient rich diet can help too.

They didn't do blood work today (she does want to do blood work on CD21 to see if I actually ovulate on my own of not). But she did do an ultrasound and said she saw many little follicles on my ovaries that she said "looked like typical PCOS ovaries". So that ultrasound along with my other "symptoms" (Weight, irregular periods, facial hair (ew I know), deep voice, etc) lead her to diagnose me with PCOS. BUT my question is... I know women with PCOS shouldn't use OPK's....because they tend to get "false positives".... but I RARELY ever get positives at all! Am I able to use OPK's (non-digital)? I just want to try an at home IUI this cycle! And I'm scared because out of ALL the fertility problems PCOS effects OPK's. Which sucks! What would you think I should do?

 

[messica]

Forget the clinic. They are really only worried about their success rates...QUOTE]

To be fair, their success rate equates to YOUR success rate. And isn't that what you want? To ultimately be successful?

Would you rather they accept you as a patient, take your money cycle after cycle, loss after loss, and not care if you ever carry a pregnancy to term? As someone with PCOS/elevated FSH, IR and DOR I can tell you, going with an unethical clinic is something you do NOT want to do. It's hard enough without those issues on top of dealing with the processes involved with AR. The health of your entire body matters because it's all connected.


That said, I'm sorry they were harsh instead of supportive. Either way, that's not right.

 

[messica]

To answer your question, I successfully used OPK's for 15 cycles. They were accurate for me and gave me relief when they corresponded with each cycle monitored with blood work and follicle studies.

 

[Cppeace]

Go ahead with opks and I highly recommend also tracking your bbt if possible to see exactly when you ovulate. Bbt is generally the most common way to confirm ovulation. A combo of bbt, opk and natural cm or cp checking is the best for knowing when you ovulate.

I personally severely dislike most doctors. They will treat larger women as though we are automatically ill or diseased just because of our size. I weigh anywhere between 230 and 280 depending on my diet and exercise routine any time of year and doctors are shocked I have good BP, heart rate, no diabetes or pretty much any real medical issues or condition. I think it irritates them lol.

As for your ultrasound. Having several small follicles is a typical sign of PCOS, but PCOS does not mean you can't ovulate or aren't ovulating. BBT is really the only way you can see if you are at home.

 

[Jenn95]

Forget the clinic. They are really only worried about their success rates...QUOTE]

To be fair, their success rate equates to YOUR success rate. And isn't that what you want? To ultimately be successful?

Would you rather they accept you as a patient, take your money cycle after cycle, loss after loss, and not care if you ever carry a pregnancy to term? As someone with PCOS/elevated FSH, IR and DOR I can tell you, going with an unethical clinic is something you do NOT want to do. It's hard enough without those issues on top of dealing with the processes involved with AR. The health of your entire body matters because it's all connected.


That said, I'm sorry they were harsh instead of supportive. Either way, that's not right.

I understand what you are saying! And I do want to be successful. My point way just they "rig" their success rates a bit. I mean they nitpick at who they want to help. You need to be their "ideal candidate" for them to help. So In a way they are just concerned about their success rate numbers. I have talked to others in my area (just today after my appointment) who have went to the same clinic (4 women to be exact). All of them bigger women (250lbs or higher). 3 of them went to other clinics and 2 of them have a child now! Another of them is currently pregnant. And one woman is yet to conceive. So... it's COMPLETELY possible to have a healthy pregnancy being bigger. And I feel really hurt that I'm denied just because I'm "fat". It really hurts. But I understand your point. It just sucks. It's not fair.

 

[Jenn95]

Go ahead with opks and I highly recommend also tracking your bbt if possible to see exactly when you ovulate. Bbt is generally the most common way to confirm ovulation. A combo of bbt, opk and natural cm or cp checking is the best for knowing when you ovulate.

I personally severely dislike most doctors. They will treat larger women as though we are automatically ill or diseased just because of our size. I weigh anywhere between 230 and 280 depending on my diet and exercise routine any time of year and doctors are shocked I have good BP, heart rate, no diabetes or pretty much any real medical issues or condition. I think it irritates them lol.

As for your ultrasound. Having several small follicles is a typical sign of PCOS, but PCOS does not mean you can't ovulate or aren't ovulating. BBT is really the only way you can see if you are at home.

Thanks!! I actually picked up a BBT thermometer on my way home. Would it be too late to start tracking this cycle? CD 8 tomorrow. :/ I am doing an at home IUI this cycle. Soooo, I'm going to use OPK's for certain! But will I be able to tell if I O this cute le if I start BBT tomorrow morning?

 

[lisap2008]

So sorry they were so rude about it, did they do a ultrasound or blood work or are they just diagnosing PCOS based on symptoms and weight?
With your cycles becoming regular I believe your fertility has improved with the weight loss ,studies have shown an improvement in fertility with as little as 20 pound loss, sticking with a high protein nutrient rich diet can help too.

They didn't do blood work today (she does want to do blood work on CD21 to see if I actually ovulate on my own of not). But she did do an ultrasound and said she saw many little follicles on my ovaries that she said "looked like typical PCOS ovaries". So that ultrasound along with my other "symptoms" (Weight, irregular periods, facial hair (ew I know), deep voice, etc) lead her to diagnose me with PCOS. BUT my question is... I know women with PCOS shouldn't use OPK's....because they tend to get "false positives".... but I RARELY ever get positives at all! Am I able to use OPK's (non-digital)? I just want to try an at home IUI this cycle! And I'm scared because out of ALL the fertility problems PCOS effects OPK's. Which sucks! What would you think I should do?

I have had PCOS my entire life and they also found mine via ultrasound plus I was going 6+ months without a cycle that was when I was much younger , as I got older my cycles have gotten more regular now I have 27-28 day cycles.
but I have not had any problems with false positive OPKs either so it depends on the person, I tested twice a day with the internet strip OPKs just to be sure it was my real surge ,plus I took my basal body temp every morning to confirm I had ovulated.

 

[krissie328]

Hey hun. I'm sorry the specialist was not helpful.

For pcos one of the best ways to lose weight is mow carb. It's pretty much the only way I can lose without starving myself.

Also, cd 8 is fine to start temping. I highly recommend charting.

I do use opks with pcos. They work for me. Most cycles I ovulate I've got a positive. The ones I didn't I suspect I just missed it. I use regular non digi opks.