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IVF and weight gain
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Anonymous
| Is it true that IVF causes women to gain weight due to the increase in hormones or something like that? Have you experienced weight gain with IVF? If yes, how much weight? Has it affected your health or relationship, or anything else? Have you been able to lose it or do you know people who have been able to successfully lose it? Thanks. |
Anonymous
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I disagree with the weight gain thoughts. However, when your eggs are growing you can feel very bloated if you've got a lot of follies. In addition, after the egg retrieval when they put you on progesterone and estrace your body can "think" you are pregnant. I didn't have any trouble with this before I was pregnant, but when we tried for #2, I did notice that my waist would dissapear somewhat during this phase (not that I gained weight, it was just re-distributed a little). On the cycles I did not become pregnant I would always return to my normal state within a few days of stopping the meds.
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Anonymous
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I gained ten pounds. A friend lost ten. It was five years ago, and now I realize that we have opposite ways of dealing with stress. She starves herself; I stopped exercising (afraid of a miscarriage given everything) and ate too much.
Interesting in seeing other answers. BTW, I now have two young children, less than 18 months apart. I did not lose the baby weight until my second child was 18 months old. But now that he's two, I weigh less than before my IVFs. And it was an effortless weight loss. Best of luck to you. |
Anonymous
| Having gone through IVF multiple times, as well as other ART procedures involving hormones, I gained weight, despite being an avid runner, and my friends who have gone through it told me they gained weight too. Part of it is fluid retention, but the added estrogen circulating in your system, both from follicles and supplementing with fertility drugs, causes your body to store fat, especially around belly, hips, etc. I would say my overall gain was 10-15 pounds. Friends who have done multiple IVFs have said they tend to gain about 5 plbs per cycle. As for loss, I lost it all and then some after my first child, and hopefully will after the second, but I do tend to exercise alot and I breastfed. |
Anonymous
| I've gained a little weight during each cycle. I think if of it as PMS-type weight gain because it never seems permanent after I stop the meds (when I wasn't PG, that is). It can also be related to stress. Not worth worrying about -- just eat healthy and take care of yourself. |
Anonymous
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Hey there-
I had IVF and didn't gain any weight at all. I was bloated a little due to the follies but other than that, nothing. I have a question though...does it really matter to you if you gain weight on IVF?? I don't see the point of this topic...when all is said and done, isn't the only thing that really matters, getting pregnant and having a healthy baby? There's always time after the baby is born to loose the weight. |
Anonymous
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Hey there-
I had IVF and didn't gain any weight at all. I was bloated a little due to the follies but other than that, nothing. I have a question though...does it really matter to you if you gain weight on IVF?? I don't see the point of this topic...when all is said and done, isn't the only thing that really matters, getting pregnant and having a healthy baby? There's always time after the baby is born to loose the weight. |
Anonymous
easy to say if you didn't gain any weight! 
BC of my IVF, went into my pregnancy ten pounds overweight, which wasn't ideal. Also, I had multiples, so I especially didn't need the weight. Also, for me, it was a strange weight gain - all around my waist like an old lady. |
Anonymous
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We did injectibles with IUI - but I required very high levels of the hormones and also used progesterone supplements. I gained about 5 pounds a cycle.
I have talked with other women who've done injectibles - and, while there are some who do not gain - 4-5 pounds a cycle is not uncommon. |
Anonymous
Yes, I can see your point. While I didn't gain any weight with the IVF process. I did end up gaining 60lbs during my pregnancy. I did have a big baby for my size and it was a true biatch to lose all of the weight. Good luck with everything 
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Anonymous
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This is such a nice thread. It's what makes me keep coming back to this site.
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Anonymous
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I actually lost weight and while doing 2 IVF cycles back-to-back I was at my lowest weight in years. I agree with the PP who said it all depends how you handle the stress/how your body handles it, but I don't think weight gain is a given during IVF.
Best of luck to you. |