25 replies to this topic

[happytoday]

Is it normal to experience weight gain during an IVF cycle. I have gained 7 pounds in the last two weeks and I feel like a fat cow. I don't think I am eating much differently than before the cycle but I have drastically cut back on the exercise I was doing.

[feydruss]

I think it's pretty common. I've gained a few pounds while on stims and after ER, simply due to bloating, and then inactivity in the 2ww. But within 3-4 weeks after BFN, the weight all dropped off. Of course, I hope that doesn't happen to you! Not to sound cruel, but I hope you keep gaining for another nine months!

[happytoday]

I think it's pretty common. I've gained a few pounds while on stims and after ER, simply due to bloating, and then inactivity in the 2ww. But within 3-4 weeks after BFN, the weight all dropped off. Of course, I hope that doesn't happen to you! Not to sound cruel, but I hope you keep gaining for another nine months!

Thanks and that is not cruel at all. You are right, if I get a BFP then the weight will not be a worry at all

I was struggling to lose about 5 pounds that I had gained over the holidays and on vacation before I started this cycle. I was eating really healthy, watching my portions and exercising but the weight was not coming off so I am concerned about having even more pounds to lose.

[DiXie]

I gained few pounds during the stims and I am sad to report that I still haven't dropped it it has been few months since my negative...but that doesn't mean it will be same for you..this is my case!

Because I had to weight myself every day post reterival I remember what my weight was during the 2ww, and now it is exactly the same I started yoga & Jogging, I am eating less and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere...very hard to shake off!

Once again - this is me and maybe my body is reacting differently they yours or anyone else's.

Good luck and fingers crossed for a BFP! That way no worries about the weight!

[Heather S]

Some people seem to be affected by this - myself being one of them. I gained 15 lbs in the 6 weeks leading up to transfer. Hormone fluctuations from BCP + injections and PCOS don't mix, ugh! I was still exercising (running, karate, swimming, etc) and being very careful about my diet but there was nothing I could do. RE said he expected it for me. Don't stress out about it though, there are enough worries through this process already. A few lbs make it so worth it in the end!

[nervus optimist]

a think a couple of lbs is pretty common. one thing to look out for is OHSS - i think gaining quite a few lbs really quickly is a red flag for it - I've never been through it myself - but others here have and may be able to shed more light. my opinion is - anytime you see a change you aren't expecting - bring it up to your clinic. sometimes I annoy them with telling them stuff that turned out to be irrelevant - but other times they caught things early because I brought 'minor' concerns to their attention.
hope the cycle goes well

[allyb]

I hate to say it but over the years and 9 medicated cycles I gained about 15-20 pounds. I was speaking to my OB about it and he said completely normal. They have seen women who have gained upwards of 50 pounds +...... eek!
It's a very difficult thing, what can I say!

[Nekodog]

I gained weight with my FET and I couldn't do anything to take it off. Eventually by about 6 months later it just came off by itself. I really didn't do anything different at that point. Maybe it just takes your body to get back into it's natural hormonal rhythm to go back to your normal metabolism?

[feydruss]

I think Nekodog is onto something. I've struggled for two years to shed weight, but haven't managed to shake off more than 10lbs. I talked to my doctor about it, and the consensus is that my body is holding on to it because my hormones are so whacked out and they don't know which way is up. I've had estrogen dominance, so my body wants to keep the fat, and all the medications have screwed everything up.

Originally I wanted to be 20-30lbs lighter before TTC, but we realized that it wasn't probably going to happen that way. Now if/when I do get a BFP, I'm going to have to be very careful with keeping my weight gain in check. But instead of killing myself and stressing my body out to lose it, I'm focusing on being active and making healthy choices (most of the time).

Do you think IVFers tend to be more overweight as a population in general? I wonder sometimes...

[lulu69]

Yep...sadly I have gained weight w/ the IUIs and IVF.... like some of the others, I have been eating healthy but cannot shake those pounds:(

[happytoday]

I guess I am starting to worry now because it does seem like I am gaining a bit with each cycle and not really having time to lose the weight in between.

[Ever Hopeful]

I hear you!

I gained an average of 5-8 pounds with each cycle I did - putting on a total of about 40 pounds over 2 years.

In the end I did get pregnant and most days could realy care less about the weight - I have lots of time to loose it later compared to the smaller time frame of trying to achieve, then going through a pregnancy.

I think you girls are definately on to something with the hormones........
It used to infuriate me when people said that the cyclying weight gain was nothing more than from eating too much!

[Nekodog]

Definitely not from eating too much! I feel kind of ill on all the meds and actually eat a bit less, but still gain 5-10 pounds. Some of it is probably fluid from the follicles, but I think all that estrogen makes us fatter for a bit . I am on the lower end of the BMI index (someone asked if IVFers tend to be a bit heavier?). It's my genetics though, my dad was a beanpole . Now I'm a beanpole with a basketball belly of IVF weight ready to be taken off if this darn cycle doesn't work...otherwise, I'll let it go as pregnancy fat!

[tigerlady]

I gained 15 pounds with my cycle and I was eating healthy

[capo]

I put on about 10 pounds (lots for me) and just couldn't shake it. Once we adopted it just seemed to fall off. I'm eating a ton and not well so that counterbalances the higher activity level, I just think my body finally found it's hormonal balance again. My massage therapist says that when we're under stress our bodies store fat in case of emergency. I wanted to say 'No, I wasn't stressed. Stress wasn't a factor.' (Knee jerk reaction to all the 'relax and it will happen comments'!) Secretly, I know it was probably true. Just another obstacle in the rough IF journey.

[Brooke123]

I was having difficulties to reduce about 10 poundsof my weight that I had obtained over the vacations and on holiday before I began this pattern. I was eating really healthier, viewing my sections and training but the weight was not arriving off so I am worried about having even more weight to reduce.

[Kitty Holland]

Yes, I gained too. Probably a combination of the hormones and stress.

[berrymore]

For everyone who did gain weight while doing an IVF cycle, when did you notice you started gaining? Before ER or after? 

[Crazy]

I started gaining during stim injections. I found I was fairly bloated and was doing some comfort eating.

[berrymore]

I have been feeling very bloated, but so far i have gained about 1-2 pounds, but is very common for me since I usually fluctuate that much on a weekly basis all the time. Tomorrow will be day 7 of stims, and so far not too many side effects. Just trying to figure out if the worst is yet to come or maybe I will be in the clear

[Crazy]

It is hard to know. Fingers crossed that you will soon be putting on a bunch of weight and the pounds gained from stims will just be a drop in the bucket

[ally86]

I found i bloated with the stims but it was water and swelling. The real fat gain happened with taking estrace. In taking estrogen and progesterone now for my FET cycle and even though I was always an active person (weights, running etc) I put on fat in an "estrogen pattern" meaning slung around my lower belly, hops and thighs.. so it really seems tied to the hormone hijacking. Progesterone causes water retention (like many people have just before their periods) so it just adds insult to injury. I can tell ya now if i get a bfp its worth it but if its a bfn then I am hitting it hard in the gym to shake this fluff!!!

[Clairey]

I put on weight during each IVF cycle. Unfortunately. My first IVF cycle, I even went to the gym 4 times a week while stimming and still gained weight. I didn't change my eating. For the next two, like some others have said I wasn't as physically active, and during stimming I would always gain weight.

 

I felt like people were always looking at my stomach while I was still working. I had gained weight and I always gain weight in my stomach area, but the drugs and bloating definitely made me look pregnant. All so unfair... some people would come right out and wink and say "Do you have something to share??" and things like that, and here I was going on year 5 of desperately trying to have something to share.

 

I am still not in the clothes I wore pre-cycling days but that may be a thing of the past. I'm seriously considering a major "lifestyle lift" in the stomach area when my family is complete. If anyone wants to join me and we can recover together just let me know!

[ally86]

Its tempting, but I gotta bodybuild a few kids first. I figured if I was going to have anything "upgraded" it would be post children. That way I can assess the situation better lol.

[Clairey]

That's why I said "when my family is complete"... let's postpone till then. You're right, the situation to be assessed may be a whole nother story!