There has been a rise in the use of weight loss injections to help those who are overweight manage their weight and reduce BMI. Using these injections can be helpful on your weight loss journey, but it is important to understand the impact of this medication before considering egg donation. As these injections are not licensed for use during fertility treatment, we cannot provide fertility treatment, including egg donation, if a donor used these injections in the last 2 months. Throughout this blog, you will hear how our team can advise on the safest way to start your donation journey.
When considering egg donation, BMI can significantly impact safety. Studies have found that maintaining a BMI within the normal range increases the safety of having treatment such as egg collection. For most adults, a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered a healthy weight. For our egg donors safety we ask all Egg donors UK donors have a BMI within the range of 19 to 32 before starting their egg donation journey.
While BMI is not a perfect measure, as this healthy range can also be influenced by factors such as muscle mass and ethnic background, using BMI is the simplest and most accessible way to assess whether you are at a healthy weight. If you are unsure about your BMI or whether you fall within the normal range, you can use an online calculator, such as the NHS BMI calculator, which allows you to include these additional factors.
A BMI of 30 or more is classified as obese. If you are struggling with obesity and could benefit from losing weight, there are many different types of weight loss injections that have entered the market recently. Injections can be used to address the physiological element of obesity, and when used safely, can be beneficial for those struggling to maintain a healthy weight. These medications include;
These medications work slightly differently but the most common are known as GLP-1 agonists which function by manipulating the GLP-1 hormone the body naturally releases when you eat food. GLP-1 agonists mimic these hormone responses, slowing down the digestion of your food which makes you feel fuller for longer.
The impact of this response not only results in appetite suppression, but can also help to improve digestion and regulate hormone levels like insulin. In real world outcomes, this means patients taking these injections may find it easier to stick to a calorie controlled diet and can improve how the body processes food.
If you are struggling to maintain a healthy weight, injections have shown to be effective with many patients reporting ‘substantial weight loss’ within clinical trials.
“The new generation of weight loss medicines has the potential to achieve important health and well-being benefits for the people living with obesity.”
While these medications have great potential, it's important to weigh up the risks to your long-term health, financial and lifestyle goals. These medications are available on prescription via the NHS, approved weight management programmes and online pharmacies. These services will often come with additional support, using the support of medical professionals will help you discover how using this medication could allow you to meet your goals of optimising your BMI safely and on a timeline that works for you.
When used in conjunction with other underlying weight management techniques, weight loss injections may be a suitable solution if a healthcare professional has advised you to optimise your BMI before egg donation and you have not seen any changes with a calorie-controlled diet and increased activity levels. If you decide weight loss injections might be the right fit for you, speak to your GP or online provider about your desire to donate.
While we have discussed the benefits weight loss injections can have for certain egg donors prior to donating, it is also important to understand the risks. If you have been using weight loss injections prescribed by your GP or purchased online prior to treatment, a bit of extra planning is needed to make sure you do not put yourself or any future child at risk. Taking weight loss injections that function by keeping you fuller for longer means our team needs to take extra care before planning your egg collection procedure, which involves sedation.
Our expert Anaesthetists will put you under sedation during your egg collection procedure. To make this process as safe as possible, our team will ask that you fast for a few hours before your procedure. If your rate of digestion is still lower from the effects of the medication, then it is likely there will still be food in your stomach, which increases the choking risk when going under sedation. For this reason, it is essential that we know whether or not you have taken these injections in the past 2 months.
Before your donation cycle, our team will conduct a medical consultation so we can offer you the chance to donate in the safest way possible. The information you provide will be used to plan your entire donation cycle, including managing your anaesthetic, so it’s important to mention if you have been taking weight loss medication recently at this point.
At Egg Donors UK, our expert consultants plan every donation cycle tailored to you. This personalised treatment plan allows us to carry out the safest treatment for you. It’s important you talk about your medical history in detail to our doctors. If you are concerned about your weight or taking weight loss medication to manage your BMI, our team can advise the safest way for you to continue with your donation.
Please ensure that you tell our medical, nursing team or dedicated donor team if you have used weight loss injections in the past, are planning to use them, or if you start using them at any time during your donation journey.
Whether you are currently in the process of donating or thinking about donating in the future, our donor team are here to talk. If you have a specific question about your donation, you can find the best way to get in touch via our contact us page.
Government guidance on GLP-1 medicines: what you need to know
Medical Director
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