Call for fertility ban for obese (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5296200.stm)

Very obese women should be denied fertility treatment, experts say.
The British Fertility Society is recommending women with a body mass index of 36 and over should not be allowed access to fertility treatment.

Underweight women and those classed just as obese (BMI over 29) should be forced to address their weight before starting treatment, the society said.

NHS guidelines say overweight women should be warned of the health risks, but do not impose any ban on treatment.

Being overweight can put both the health of the mother and child at risk through problems such as gestational diabetes and high blood pressure.

In reality, many primary care trusts do not fund women who are obese.

Richard Kennedy, of the BFS, said: "The NHS is already stopping women who are obese from having fertility treatment.

"What we are saying is that they should be less stringent and more consistent with how they apply this.

"Obese women are less likely to get pregnant and more likely to encounter health problems. It makes sense to address obesity before seeking fertility treatment."

The BFS, which represents health fertility professionals, also recommended single women and same sex couples be given the same priority as heterosexual couples.

Cycles

NHS guidelines say women aged 23 to 39 should be entitled to three cycles of IVF, although the government gave the health service a deadline of April last year to provide one cycle with a view to working towards three.

The society made its recommendations after surveying 64 fertility clinics in England and Wales.

It received responses from 37, showing one in 10 was not providing IVF treatment free on the NHS because they were not being given funding by the local PCTs.

None of the clinics was providing three cycles, the poll, which will be published in the Human Fertility journal in September, said.

The poll also showed many of the PCTs which did provide IVF treatment were restricting access by taking social factors into account.

These included barring people from treatment if one of the partners already had a child from a previous relationship or because the couple had paid for private treatment before going to the NHS.

And it also revealed a quarter of clinics were also restricting treatment according to age, with most only allowing women in their late 30s to have IVF.

Clinical factors

Dr Gillian Lockwood, who chairs the BFS's ethics committee, told the BBC that "unfairness" was the aspect of the NHS provision which people objected to most.

"Trying to get rid of the postcode lottery is something that's influenced treatments for multiple sclerosis and cancer so it's only reasonable that it should apply to fertility treatment too," she said.

But Dr Lockwood said there were clinical factors which affected the success of IVF and, as well as weight concerns being over the age of 40 meant that "even very high-tech treatments like IVF are really very unsuccessful".

Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris, a member of the Science and Technology Select Committee, said: "This is a welcome and progressive set of recommendations since there is no good reason to discriminate unfairly against one group of patients or another."

"If it's a proven fact that it's very difficult to get pregnant when you're overweight, then the logical cure for that kind of infertility is to encourage the patient to lose weight."

"Then you know hopefully the patient will get pregnant naturally without need of any assisted reproduction."

The Department of Health said that, while it did not support bans being imposed, the current NHS guidelines were broadly in line with the recommendations on obesity.

A spokeswoman added: "Primary responsibility for implementing NICE guidelines, including the rate of implementation, rests with the NHS at local level and we have made it clear that we expect these guidelines to be followed."

She said the government was working with patient group Infertility Network UK to ensure PCTs listened to the views of patients.

WOW that's perplexing. I just had this big thing written about why it is a bad idea, isn't fair :blabla, but then I really started thinking about it from a different aspect. Carrying a child is hard on your body as it is, and from a health perspective I can understand the decision. Also, this quote makes a lot of sense:

"If it's a proven fact that it's very difficult to get pregnant when you're overweight, then the logical cure for that kind of infertility is to encourage the patient to lose weight."

It's really very easy, as an overweight person, to cry foul and pull the fairness card, but if you stop and think about your overall health, then yes I get it. I mean - shoot the primary reason I decided to lose weight in the first place was to set a good example of a healthy life for my child...and then on the other hand, the government shouldn't dictate parenting or what kind of examples should be set (by restricting fertility treatment based on weight)...so...

I think my opinion on this is pretty wishy washy at this point. It sucks, but I get it. :dunno

**edited for clarity

Umm.. i don't think its right to pick and choose who can have children at all. It's not our say. Obese women have just as right to get pregnant as any other woman does. To even single out a weight group is horrible if you ask me. Yes they may be health risks- but if thats a risk she wants to take then let her damn take it! When it comes down to it- any woman can die giving birth- so it's just not fair to shatter peoples dreams just because of their weight. I don't give a shit if they are obese, they are still women and ANY woman has just as much right to have children as the next one does!

the risks are so much higher for an obese group--especially those morbidly and grossly overweight. obese people are told to lose weight before surgeries is that discrimination on them too? i know the gift of life is amazing and bringing a new chidl into the world must be an incredible feeling (i have no kids) and i know their are risks of complications as you get older already and being pg in general but frankly i can't say this is a bad idea. they may have the right to have a child but what kind of life is it going to be for a child who's mother is so overweight that they need a wheelchair to get around or if they can't bend over far enough to pick them up. not to mention with IVF there is such an increase for the "risk" of multiples.

I understand what this is based off of. But I am on the fence as well.

i got confused by some of the acronyms in the article, but is this just talking about free funded treatment? if that's the case, i think they can deny the fertility treatments to those people who they feel are a health risk to themselves and the baby. they aren't saying obese women can't get pregnant, they just can't use the free fertility treatment centers. (is the "free" part right?)

Which acronym are you thinking might have free in it? :puzzled That would help with answering your question.

I got it from is - if they are showing 1 in 10 aren't giving free, 9 in 10 must be giving IVF treatment free. I

It received responses from 37, showing one in 10 was not providing IVF treatment free on the NHS because they were not being given funding by the local PCTs.

didn't know what NHS (National Health Service) or PCT (primary care trust) was. I looked it up briefly so i think i get it. NHS is supposed to provide free IVF treatments if the person who wants it gets sponsored or something like that. I guess my point was if NHS is providing free services, they should be able to dictate how that is managed. Obese women can still go to private facilities and pay for it.

I just missed that area because I am sleepy. I agree with you now that I see where you got that from.

well i guess some people would consider me obese which i hate that term i just like to see it as overweight period. but anyway with all 3 of my boys yes i was overweight but i had NO problems conceiving and i was one of the lucky ones and I was apparently very very fertile. LOL after i had my oldest son who is now 20 i didnt go back on the pill and then 6 months later i was pregnant again. with Robbie i was 39 years old and i had just gone off the pill prior to meeting my current DH and i apparently was still very fertile then too LOL so for me being "obese" didnt play a factor so i kinda am on the fence about all that. while i can see the benefits of being at a better weight to have a child I really dont think they should put a ban on it. but I am assuming this is just talking about woman seeking fertility treatments and not women who arent seeking fertility treatments.

WOW that's perplexing. I just had this big thing written about why it is a bad idea, isn't fair :blabla, but then I really started thinking about it from a different aspect. Carrying a child is hard on your body as it is, and from a health perspective I can understand the decision. Also, this quote makes a lot of sense:



It's really very easy, as an overweight person, to cry foul and pull the fairness card, but if you stop and think about your overall health, then yes I get it. I mean - shoot the primary reason I decided to lose weight in the first place was to set a good example of a healthy life for my child...and then on the other hand, the government shouldn't dictate parenting or what kind of examples should be set (by restricting fertility treatment based on weight)...so...

I think my opinion on this is pretty wishy washy at this point. It sucks, but I get it. :dunno

**edited for clarity

I agree- I lost weight for the most part for the reason to get pregnant -- I didnt want any of the hardships on my body-- or health risks for me and baby-- But at the same time.. it still sucks esp if a couple has been trying for awhile and she has other issues keeping her from losing the weight......

:neutral

I think from the NHS point of view, they're clamping down on certain treatments because it's the taxpayers' money that goes into it. All NHS treatments are free to anyone living in the UK. The government has already clamped down on certain treatments for smokers, saying that unless they quit they will have to get private insurance for those treatments. This policy is using the same principle.

I see, and respect it, from both sides

I have to say I agree with most of it. Women who are morbidly obease (more than 100 lbs over what is reasonable) and even those who are severly under weight should address that issue first. Chances are if they lost (or gained) weight fertility would be less of an issue. Their bodys are working so hard keep up with them without having a baby in there and I think a lot of these women dont think about the fact that there is a much higher risk of a difficult pregnancy and of having a child with health issues. It seems selfish in many ways to me. Also, there are studies that show that most obese women want a baby so that they feel loved, of course other women use this reason too, but its much higher in obese patients. There is also an increased risk of depression in the children of morbidly obese mothers so it would behoove them to obtain a healthy weight before TTC.

I'm not saying obese women dont deserve to have children. I just think that there should be stricter requirements on fertility treatments. It is such an expensive and stressful treatment and should be used more carefully.

. they may have the right to have a child but what kind of life is it going to be for a child who's mother is so overweight that they need a wheelchair to get around or if they can't bend over far enough to pick them up.

I just wanted to comment on this because I am very overweight and the girls on this board that know me, knows that Aaron has a wonderful life. Yeah he might have a mom who is 400 pounds but that doesn't stop me from being a good mom who plays with my son. And I believe Aaron will always have a good life because thats what I plan on giving him and to me it doesn't matter what size you are. I know mothers who are super skinny and are less active with there kids than I am so what kind of life is that child gonna have?

Aaron wasn't a planned baby but he was very much wanted. Being heavy does make it hard to have babies but its not impossible. I would of never thought about getting treatments to help me have a baby because I believe if god wants you to have a child he will give you one no matter what size you are.

WOW that's perplexing. I just had this big thing written about why it is a bad idea, isn't fair :blabla, but then I really started thinking about it from a different aspect. Carrying a child is hard on your body as it is, and from a health perspective I can understand the decision. Also, this quote makes a lot of sense:



It's really very easy, as an overweight person, to cry foul and pull the fairness card, but if you stop and think about your overall health, then yes I get it. I mean - shoot the primary reason I decided to lose weight in the first place was to set a good example of a healthy life for my child...and then on the other hand, the government shouldn't dictate parenting or what kind of examples should be set (by restricting fertility treatment based on weight)...so...

I think my opinion on this is pretty wishy washy at this point. It sucks, but I get it. :dunno

**edited for clarity

I agree

well i know im not morbidly overweight but i tend to slightly disagree on certain aspects like having a more difficult pregnancy. yes some women do but some dont. i just got lucky with my first 2 boys because i was alot younger for one and i didnt have any health issues to begin with except just being overweight but not 100 lbs over my recommended weight. both those boys turned out fine. then with Robbie yes i think my age has something to do with it but he turned out just fine too the only thing that i got during the pregnancy was just the gestational diabetes but it never harmed robbie in the least. now after he was born i got high blood pressure but that was all i got from that too. so really i didnt have all that many problems so i guess you could say either i just got lucky or either an exception to the rule. but i do agree that some women may have more problems than others.

I just wanted to comment on this because I am very overweight and the girls on this board that know me, knows that Aaron has a wonderful life. Yeah he might have a mom who is 400 pounds but that doesn't stop me from being a good mom who plays with my son. And I believe Aaron will always have a good life because thats what I plan on giving him and to me it doesn't matter what size you are. I know mothers who are super skinny and are less active with there kids than I am so what kind of life is that child gonna have?

Aaron wasn't a planned baby but he was very much wanted. Being heavy does make it hard to have babies but its not impossible. I would of never thought about getting treatments to help me have a baby because I believe if god wants you to have a child he will give you one no matter what size you are.

i was not trying to imply that you were a bad mother. yes there are extremely thin women who dump their kids on nannies and don't spend time with them. i agree its God's choice to offer you the opportunity to have kids. that's the exact reason i cited for not ever having my tubes tied or dh getting a vastectomy. there are people who are extremely overweight who are healthy. they exercise and they eat right and their bodies are okay carrying the extra weight. overweight is a touchy subject for me because my family is overweight and they have health problems--this is a whole other topic and i won't go into it here because my views are probably very very very insensitive to some--lets just say i believe in tough love in most cases. once again i wasn't trying to imply that you were a bad mother, i'm sorry if i hurt your feelings. there is alot of evidence to show that women's bodies just don't work as well if they are underweight (by choice) or overweight when they try and carry kids.

I have to say I agree with most of it. Women who are morbidly obease (more than 100 lbs over what is reasonable) and even those who are severly under weight should address that issue first. Chances are if they lost (or gained) weight fertility would be less of an issue. Their bodys are working so hard keep up with them without having a baby in there and I think a lot of these women dont think about the fact that there is a much higher risk of a difficult pregnancy and of having a child with health issues. It seems selfish in many ways to me. Also, there are studies that show that most obese women want a baby so that they feel loved, of course other women use this reason too, but its much higher in obese patients. There is also an increased risk of depression in the children of morbidly obese mothers so it would behoove them to obtain a healthy weight before TTC.

I'm not saying obese women dont deserve to have children. I just think that there should be stricter requirements on fertility treatments. It is such an expensive and stressful treatment and should be used more carefully.


Well said...:thumbsup

I have to say I agree with most of it. Women who are morbidly obease (more than 100 lbs over what is reasonable) and even those who are severly under weight should address that issue first. Chances are if they lost (or gained) weight fertility would be less of an issue. Their bodys are working so hard keep up with them without having a baby in there and I think a lot of these women dont think about the fact that there is a much higher risk of a difficult pregnancy and of having a child with health issues. It seems selfish in many ways to me. Also, there are studies that show that most obese women want a baby so that they feel loved, of course other women use this reason too, but its much higher in obese patients. There is also an increased risk of depression in the children of morbidly obese mothers so it would behoove them to obtain a healthy weight before TTC.

I'm not saying obese women dont deserve to have children. I just think that there should be stricter requirements on fertility treatments. It is such an expensive and stressful treatment and should be used more carefully.


:agree

I also think it's one thing to get pregnant while you are obese on your own but if you need the help to get pregnant why fight against the idea of getting yourself in shape before hand. Pregnancy is hard on a body and it is hard to lose the weight afterwards. Getting your self in shape or close to it before hand is only going to help you in the long run.

I can understand the point of it, I guess. But no one should be able to keep someone from having a child..

I dont know. Iam on the fense as well on this one.

I dont think they are trying to prevent obese people from having kids naturally... but if you are expecting thousands of dollars worth of intervention (IVF is spendy!!), it seems like you might meet them half way by losing some weight? :dunno

I dont think they are trying to prevent obese people from having kids naturally... but if you are expecting thousands of dollars worth of intervention (IVF is spendy!!), it seems like you might meet them half way by losing some weight? :dunno

I agree. The same as you must quit smoking, drinking and start taking pre-natal vitamins.

well i guess some people would consider me obese which i hate that term i just like to see it as overweight period. but anyway with all 3 of my boys yes i was overweight but i had NO problems conceiving and i was one of the lucky ones and I was apparently very very fertile. LOL after i had my oldest son who is now 20 i didnt go back on the pill and then 6 months later i was pregnant again. with Robbie i was 39 years old and i had just gone off the pill prior to meeting my current DH and i apparently was still very fertile then too LOL so for me being "obese" didnt play a factor so i kinda am on the fence about all that. while i can see the benefits of being at a better weight to have a child I really dont think they should put a ban on it. but I am assuming this is just talking about woman seeking fertility treatments and not women who arent seeking fertility treatments.
I do not consider you obese at all!! You are very active(you have a little one)too! and BEAUTIFUL :)
On the subject:
I
have PCOS and was not able to get pregnant until I did lose some weight. I know that morbidly obese women have higher risks of pre eclampsia, high blood pressure,etc and their babies can develop diabetes because of weight. I think that health should be a consideration but not someone who is just slightly overweight. For my size I am supposed to weight 135....I look anorexic and disgusting at that weight. I like weighing more and even at 145I was considered obese but I have a large frame. Wide sholders and hips(not just fat but width) Anyway, IVF is expensive but is available to almost anyone:)

I dont think they are trying to prevent obese people from having kids naturally... but if you are expecting thousands of dollars worth of intervention (IVF is spendy!!), it seems like you might meet them half way by losing some weight? :dunno


oh now that i can agree with and understand.

I do not consider you obese at all!! You are very active(you have a little one)too! and BEAUTIFUL :)
On the subject:
I
have PCOS and was not able to get pregnant until I did lose some weight. I know that morbidly obese women have higher risks of pre eclampsia, high blood pressure,etc and their babies can develop diabetes because of weight. I think that health should be a consideration but not someone who is just slightly overweight. For my size I am supposed to weight 135....I look anorexic and disgusting at that weight. I like weighing more and even at 145I was considered obese but I have a large frame. Wide sholders and hips(not just fat but width) Anyway, IVF is expensive but is available to almost anyone:)



awwwwwwwwwwwww thanks Jenn :hugs :hugs