Obesity and the chances of becoming pregnant

I have just been reading your page on obesity and the chances of becoming pregnant - in which it explains that the chances of becoming pregnant are reduced due to the extra weight, I am about to start IVF at MFS and have been informed that my weight will not have an effect on the success of the treatment, I have a BMI of 31 and am just under 15 stone - which information is correct? Thank you.

Our Expert's Answer

This information was published 12 years, 6 months ago and was correct at the time of publication. It may not reflect our current practices or regulations.

Please note that all the answers we give are on a generic basis only, as we cannot provide more in-depth answers without access to your medical history. If you need a more detailed response, tailored to you, we would recommend a consultation with one of our Fertility Specialists for more comprehensive medical advice.

It is well documented that having a BMI over 30 can reduce your chances of success as the extra weight can reduce the effectiveness of the drugs given to stimulate the ovaries.  At 31 your BMI is just over the threshold and the doctor will have advised you that it is not likely to have a significant effect on your chance of success.  However, I would encourage you to try and reduce your weight before commencing fertility treatment as patients with an elevated BMI have a higher risk of developing obstetric complications.