The management of eating disorders in a fertility clinic clinical guidelines

Although the wish for a child may be ambivalent in women with anorexia or b ulimia nervosa, the prevalence of eating disorders in fertility clinics is probably underestimated. Motivated by the wish for a child, these couples m ay be reluctant to reveal a history of an eating disorder and/or show resis tance to some therapy for this disorder. Nevertheless, in our opinion, the eating disorder must be in full remission before any fertility treatment ca n start, if treatment is still necessary at that moment. Illustrated with s ome case examples, we will discuss the major problems and clinical strategi es in the management of these complex cases, based upon the experience in o ur own fertility clinic.