Weight loss vs fertility treatments

[kristin16666 2]

I cant believe it i left the doctors office bawling today. I went into the office dead set on getting a referral for weight loss surgery. I am at an all time high of 319 lbs and miserable! But things took a drastic turn, as i asked my doctor whom I have known for 10 plus years but just recently started back as her patient for the referral she was more than happy to give it to me...then she asked the question, so how many kids do you have? I looked at her head held down trying to hold back the tears...none doctor i was never able to concieve. She then proceeds to tell me that i could have weight loss surgery any time but my child bearing days are quickly ending (i am 35) i would need to decide fertility treatments or weight loss surgery???? Really..and she was leaning towards fertility. I feel so defeated, like a mac truck has run over me.

[B.Annie 290]

Insurance pays for surgery usually. It does not pay for fertility treatments. There is also a possibility that once you are thinner, you will be able to conceive naturally - making you all around healthier for pregnancy and cheaper since your not paying for fertility treatments. As someone in my 30s with a surprise pregnancy after weight loss, I'd personally believe you can wait a year to get pregnant and during that time, get yourself healthy. Makes no sense to do it the other way. You'll still have kids.

[marieac2 85]

Great advice!!

[Sherrie Scharbrough 311]

Exactly!!! I was going to say the very exact thing. Get your WLS get yourself healthy and then see what comes. I have heard on these Support sites that women who could not get PG before they had WLS did have success after their weight loss. Now my kids are well grown up. My son is 42 and my daughter is 37. But I was asked how many kids I had. When I told him that I had 3 pregnancies 2 birthed and 1 misscarriage. He looked me straight in the eye and told me that I shouldn't of been able to bear children. I never had regular periods and I eventually had to have a HYSTERECTOMY because I had PRE CANCERIOUS cells. Which he told me that I would get cancer it could be a day or a month even a year but...I would have cancer. He was the same DR that told me I shouldn't have been able to get PG. My hubby always said it was because he WAS MUCH OF A MAN!!! LOL Any way don't let her discourage you. You do whatever you feel is right for you!! They can be kind of callused sometimes. Good Luck to you!!!

[gryffen 176]

Weight loss lass, get the weight down and get tested for PCOS - if that's the reason then the loss will seriously help.

And that's coming from someone who has PCOS, lost 10lbs suddenly and 3 pints of blood, got transfused and then found out I was 2 months pregnant in 2014.

[ursusmaritimus 18]

I cant believe it i left the doctors office bawling today. I went into the office dead set on getting a referral for weight loss surgery. I am at an all time high of 319 lbs and miserable! But things took a drastic turn, as i asked my doctor whom I have known for 10 plus years but just recently started back as her patient for the referral she was more than happy to give it to me...then she asked the question, so how many kids do you have? I looked at her head held down trying to hold back the tears...none doctor i was never able to concieve. She then proceeds to tell me that i could have weight loss surgery any time but my child bearing days are quickly ending (i am 35) i would need to decide fertility treatments or weight loss surgery???? Really..and she was leaning towards fertility. I feel so defeated, like a mac truck has run over me.

You didn't give all of your medical history, but assuming you're otherwise healthy, I'd question your GYN and get a second opinion. My GYN and surgeon were ADAMANT that I be on effective non-hormonal birth control BEFORE surgery because women become hyper fertile during massive weight loss. Apparently fat stores female hormones that cause increased fertility as they're leaving the body during the weightloss, Google it. I had surgery 5 days ago. While talking with my surgeon 6 days ago, he said, "I know you may have been told you have low fertility, but you have to use birth control. Just this year (in four months), four of his recent surgery patients became "surprise" pregnant. They were all roughly my age (mid-30s). The problem is that those pregnancies will likely end weightloss and are high risk because the mothers are having vitamin/mineral malabsorption and can't eat much still.

I asked him why they risked their health and the fetal health so soon after surgery and his exact answer was, "Because they had all been told for years that they were infertile. Really, they were just severely overweight. So, they ignored my medical direction."

So, chin up. Barring other issues, I can't imagine you have to choose wls or fertility at 35. That sounds ridiculous. Where I live, a lot of people don't have kids until 40, on purpose.

[marieac2 85]

WOW amazing! You really need to be your own medical advocate... I had no idea how much obesity affected getting pregnant nor fix I know rapid weight lose you were more fertile! Good luck ladies! Your both stars!!

[Maxthecat 37]

I'm really sorry you are going through this. My Dr. instructs that no one should get pregnant until after 2 years post op due to malabsorption. My cousin has surgery 4 years ago and recently delivered at 29 weeks. Her son is healthy now but it was quite scary. So keep that in mind when making your decision.

I wish you all the luck with conceiving, no matter what route you take.

[Lauren PB 19]

Hey Kristin. My husband and I have been trying for over 4 yrs. I went through 5 IUIS and an IVF. My highest weight was 320, and then went down to 275ish on my own I decided to go through gastric sleeve. I have PCOS and had polyps in my uterus. My surgeon told me as I lose the weight PCOS symptoms should decrease and fertility should increase, hopefully. Plus I would be a healthier mother for my child and little to no complications during pregnancy. Believe me I want a child more than anything I'm 32 yrs old and my surgeon says I shouldn't try again for 18 months so I will be 33 and half when I start again. Do not give up. I say go through the weight loss surgery, it will make thing easier and from there try again for that baby. My mom had me at 38 going on 39 and my sister at 41 going on 42 . I don't know if I will get pregnant in the end, but I know I will have done everything in my power to try and conceive. My husband and I are also putting money aside each month for adoption in case we choose that route. I want to be a mom more than anything. And trust me I know how hard it aches to want to be a mom. If you ever want to talk let me know. ♡. My email is lmpangburn41785@aol.com.