Is being plus sized a barrier to becoming pregnant? You may have asked this question of yourself many times. Doctors may have told you that pregnancy will be difficult if you do not lose weight. In your quest for fertility, you may have encountered less than supportive physicians and health care workers who may have been unwilling to consider you for fertility treatments. Your size shouldn’t be a hindrance to you getting proper care. There are qualified physicians and health care staff that are ready and willing to help you achieve your goals throughout the United States. There are three criteria, though, to keep in mind when seeking fertility treatment: finding the right doctor, treatment effectiveness and facility requirements.

Getting Informed About Fertility Treatment
In order to find the right doctor, you will have to be forthright, organized and persistent. One of the first things you can do is consult plus-sized pregnant friends, family and relatives about their general practitioners. Ask them questions like:

Do you feel comfortable with your doctor?
How long is the average waiting time?
Are you treated with respect and dignity throughout your pregnancy?
Does your doctor keep organized, updated files during your visit?
Is the facility clean and accommodating to plus-size women?
Is the doctor familiar with polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin-resistance treatment?

Know Your Fertility Health
Before you begin your search for the right doctor, you should become as informed as possible about your own fertility health. You can keep a fertility chart to measure your basal body temperature and cervical mucus and buy hormone tests at the drugstore. As a result, when you do visit a fertility specialist, you will not be so confused by medical jargon and are instead an informed consumer.

Finding a Plus-Size Friendly Physician
You can begin research on the internet or in the yellow pages for infertility specialists. You can narrow your search by looking for reproductive endocrinologists and obstetricians/gynecologist. Once you have made a list of pertinent questions, you can identify potential doctors and start cold-calling them. You should feel comfortable discussing your weight with secretaries and doctors. Ask them if there is a weight restriction for their patients and if they are willing to start fertility treatments for you.

If you make an appointment to see the doctor, ask if you can speak to the doctor before you get undressed for a physical exam. When you do see the doctor, make sure you have copies of your medical files and a list of questions you would like to ask. First impressions are important and if a doctor sees you prepared initially, she will be more likely to give you straight answers.

Questions to Ask About Treatment Effectiveness
Some important questions you can start off with after a brief health and reproductive history are:

What do you think my chances of conception are given my weight, age and history?
What infertility training do you have?
Are you associated with any hospitals?
What are your success rates with in vitro fertilization (IVF)?
What are your current office hours?
What is your insurance policy?
Is there a way I can get in touch with you between appointments?
Will I be denied any treatments due to my weight?
What fertility tests will I be starting out with?
Do you have access to ultrasound equipment and other technology?
Do you offer alternative fertility treatments?
Do you offer infertility counseling or therapy?

Factors to Consider for Facility Requirements
When you go into a fertility clinic to have testing done, you want to feel comfortable in your own skin. The last thing you need is anxiety about whether a hospital gown will fit you, if blood pressure cuffs will fit and what kind of examining table you will have to lay on. For this reason, plus sized women should consider the type of facility they choose for fertility treatments.

What Should You Look For in a Fertility Clinic
Primarily you should look for a clinic that offers all types of fertility testing and is open seven days a week. The types of services available should include ultrasound examinations, hormone and blood testing, artificial insemination among others. You should ensure the clinic is well-staffed and all physicians are certified. Ask about gown sizes and pressure cuff sizes. If they do not have the right size, ask if you should bring your own supplies.

We are unable to provide answers to medically related questions or other medical advice via e-mail. Our physicians look forward to addressing your medical needs in person. To schedule an appointment or for more information about this practice as well as the programs and treatments they offer, please complete the form below. Be sure to include a valid telephone number and e-mail address so that one of our Patient Advocate may contact you directly.

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