14 November 2007

Obese women could be deprived of IVF

IVF experts reveal that women with a Body Mass Index of more than 35 could be deprived of IVF treatment.  Only when a woman has a body mass of below 30 will they then be considered for treatment. Experts say that this is for the welfare of both mother and baby. Being overweight when pregnant could cause a number of problems such as decreasing the possibility that fertility treatment will be successful, it also increases the risk of complications during fertility and pregnancy says Mr Tony Rutherford, the chair of the BFS’s policy committee. Other problems such as failing to see ovaries on ultra sound scans and higher risk of miscarriages are also a concern with overweight women.  Dr Colin Waine, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, disagrees and describes the new guidelines as ‘’troubling’’ and ‘’discriminating’’. Should IVF experts decide whether overweight women should have treatment or should the risks be discussed and left up to the individual to decide? Are they taking away the right for women, overweight or not, to start a family? Some women find it extremely hard to lose weight and are naturally overweight due to genetics so are they automatically cut off from IVF treatment? Is this a big enough incentive for the obese to lose weight in our bigger society? What do other people think?

 

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