British Fertility Society recommends denial of fertility treatments for obese women |
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Wed, 30 Aug 2006 10:15
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LONDON - The British Fertility Society has recommended that women who are morbidly obese should not be offered fertility treatment, while those who are underweight or simply overweight must be first asked to sole their weight problems before being offered the treatment.
Currently, NHS guidelines ask doctors to warn obese women of health risks, but do not ban the treatment. Obese women face health risks and put pressure on their babies as well since the risk of gestational diabetes and high blood pressure is increased.
"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," said Richard Kennedy, of the BFS.
The BFS is also recommending that same sex couples or single women must also be offered the choice of fertility treatments. However the focus at the moment is obesity. "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," said Kennedy. "What we are saying is that they should be less stringent and more consistent with how they apply this."
NHS guidelines allow women aged between 23 to 39 the choice of IVF through three cycles. But in April, the government said one cycle should be provided, but could be worked to three. The BFS surveyed 64 fertility clinics in England and Wales before making its recommendations. It found none of the clinics was providing three cycles due to lack of funds.
Dr Gillian Lockwood, who chairs the BFS's ethics committee, said unfairness must first be rooted out. "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 added. "If we're trying to maximize the number of babies made per pound spent, it's really best to focus on people most likely to have the best chance of being successful."
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Sun, 29 Apr 2007 20:02:17 GMT (
Julie Evans ) |
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I myself was in the above situation 8-9 years ago, and when I saw a consultant at our local hospital he told me quite harshly and callously that there was no way he would allow me any help for my infertility because of obesity, saying he would get the medical board behind him in his decision. The Consultant in question even played God when he pointed out to me and my husband that I would NEVER get pregnant due to my weight.
Bear in mind that he said I would NEVER GET PREGNANT - well, suprise surprise, a little over a year later I got pregnant naturally and had a healthy baby, followed by a further 5 children all born within around a year of each other. And believe it or not there were no more complications with any of my pregnancies than there are with non-obese women.
I don't want to sound nasty, I realise that these doctors are highly trained and qualified professional people, but that doesn't give the right to play GOD.
If complications arise due to obese mothers, then I would like to know what doctors blame when mothers who are of normal weight face major complications and even lose their babies.
I have since been seen by the same consultant that told me I would never conceive due to obesity and he pretended that he didn't recognise me and asked if I was pregnant with my first baby when in fact it was the 7th, ok that baby was sadly miscarried, but once again, how many normal weight woman have miscarriages, so I feel that obese people are prejudiced against, which is not fair at all. After all it's illegal to say anything offensive about dark-skinned people in the uk, which is righty so, but if it's wrong to be racist then why isn't it wrong to prejudice fat people.
In closing this, I have to add that all my children have been conceived without me losing any weight at all, bear in mind the consultant in question insisted that I lost 10 stone before I would even be considered for treatment.
The ironic thing about this is the fact that such a clever professional person didn't even think of checking out my husband. And when we went to another doctor and suggested that ourselves, he got my husband's sperm tested and the problem was due to my husband's rather excessive alcohol consumption at the time. And as soon as my husband stopped drinking, I was pregnant after only ONE MONTH. So not meaning to judge anybody, particularly highly trained professionals who obviously know much more than us lay people do, but they need to accept that even then they don't know everything.
From a blisfully happy MOTHER OF SIX who is currently trying for another baby too. |
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