Trapped by the System: When BMI Requirements Create Impossible Barriers to Fertility Care

This week's episode is about something I hear constantly and it makes me genuinely angry. You can't access fertility care until you lose weight. But you can't access support to lose weight. And they won't investigate the health condition that might be causing everything in the first place. Round and round you go.If you're stuck in this loop right now, this one is for you. And the first thing I want you to know is: it is not your fault.In this episode we cover:Why the NHS BMI cutoffs for fertility treatment are arbitrary, not evidence based, and not actually NICE guidelinesWhy this catch 22 is intentional and how the system has been designed to exclude people in bigger bodiesHow to advocate for your health conditions separately from your fertility goals, and why this mattersPractical steps to document refusals, push back, and escalate if you have the capacity to do soHow to take care of your mental and emotional health when you're fighting a system that should be fighting for youUseful Links:Download: Fat Person's Guide to Getting PregnantBook a Fat Positive Fertility Roadmap CallFollow me on InstagramEmail me a question for a future episode Get full access to Fat and Fertile at fatpositivefertility.substack.com/subscribe