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Understanding BMI limits for fertility treatment
With fertility treatment, several factors can impact the process, one of which is your body mass index (BMI).
BMI is a way to determine whether you have a healthy weight for your height. If you are considering fertility treatment, it’s important to know the role that BMI plays in the process. Although maintaining a healthy BMI is essential for fertility, during treatment, the focus ultimately shifts to ensuring patient safety, particularly regarding anaesthesia during surgical procedures.
What is BMI?
BMI or body mass index, measures weight by estimating body fat and assessing whether your weight is healthy.
It is classified into five categories:
Underweight: BMI is under 18.5
Healthy weight: BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9
Overweight: BMI is between 25 and 29.9
Obese: BMI is between 30 and 39.9
Severely obese: BMI is 40 or more
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How does BMI affect fertility?
Being either underweight or overweight can significantly impact your chances of conceiving. It can also affect the effectiveness of fertility treatments and how the body responds to fertility medication, which can lead to potential pregnancy complications.
Body mass index plays an essential role during the implantation stage of pregnancy. This is when the fertilised egg attaches to the womb lining and begins to develop into an embryo. Individuals categorised as having Type 1 obesity, with a BMI over 30, may reduce their chances of successful implantation by 20-30%. Those with Type 2 obesity, classified as having a BMI over 35, can face a greater decrease in implantation success.
Additionally, individuals who are in the obese range can often experience irregular menstruation cycles, lack of ovulation, lower quality eggs and an increased risk of pregnancy loss. Equally, those who are underweight can also have irregular periods, which can lead to ovulation stopping altogether.
Why do BMI limits differ between NHS and private clinics?
The NHS only treats individuals with a BMI of 30 or less, while private clinics have their own eligibility criteria. The primary concern is the safety of patients undergoing surgical procedures that involve anaesthesia.
Patients with a high BMI may face complications during treatment, which is why the NHS and some clinics impose lower BMI limits. However, some anaesthetists at private clinics are more comfortable providing anaesthesia to patients with a higher BMI. Therefore, it is advisable to contact clinics directly to enquire about their specific BMI requirements.
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What are the BMI guidelines for fertility treatment?
At TFP Fertility, we do our best to provide fertility treatment for a diverse range of individuals.
For patients undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment ovarian stimulation and oocyte (egg) retrieval are required. Each clinic generally has an upper limit of 35 for body mass index.
This limit exists due to the technical challenges associated with the oocyte retrieval procedure in women with a higher BMI, as well as the associated risks during conscious sedation required for anaesthesia. In certain cases, we can treat women with a BMI of up to 37, but a special anaesthetic assessment would need to be carried out.
However, at TFP GCRM Fertility clinic our anaesthetists are comfortable managing patients with a BMI of up to 40.
Get in touch with TFP Fertility for fertility advice
For more information on our BMI requirements or fertility treatments, contact our patient team today to book your first consultation.
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