A study led by the University of Oxford has found that women with obesity who undergo structured weight loss before starting In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment are 47% more likely to conceive naturally and 21% more likely to become pregnant overall. This research suggests that weight management could reduce the need for fertility treatment. The BMI threshold in England set by NHS commissioning bodies for women to access NHS-funded IVF is 30. The research also analysed twelve international trials, including 1,921 women, and looked at evidence from a variety of weight loss interventions. The study found that women who participate in weight loss programmes before starting IVF were 47% more likely to conceive naturally. The study also suggests that providing structured weight loss support could help women become eligible for NHS IVF treatment and increase their chances of conceiving without assistance. The researchers also found a trend towards smaller benefits for natural conception for women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). However, they call for larger, more robust trials to compare weight loss programmes and their link to conception.