HORMONE TREATMENT
During an IVF cycle, women are given medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. These medications cause hormonal changes that can lead to fluid retention and weight gain.
Fluctuating body weight during your treatment cycle may also occur due to irregular exercise patterns and food cravings. Some patients experience IVF weight loss, especially once they stop medications or start experiencing post-cycle depression.
The key to losing weight after IVF is the same as for anyone aiming to lose excess pounds: burn more calories than you consume by reducing your total intake or exercising more. The ideal approach is to do both, but to do it in a way that doesn't compromise your nutritional needs.
Body changes –
It's not uncommon for women to gain a little weight during IVF treatments. Hormone injections can affect your weight and also your hunger levels (read # 4).
While weight gain is not a typical side effect of Gonal-f (follitropin alfa), stomach bloating can be. For some people, this stomach bloating can make pants or other clothes feel tighter, as if you've gained weight. The bloating is temporary and should go away once you've finished using this medication.
Weight gain, in contrast, lasts longer and might be harder to undo. You can reduce these effects by exercising, eating healthy, and drinking lots of water throughout your IVF cycle.
Generally, OHSS symptoms worsen to a peak within a few days after retrieval and then subside over the course of a few days to two weeks.
Avoid anything that could potentially damage or impact your abdomen or uterus. High-intensity interval training (HIIT), running, and heavy weight lifting are all off the table while undergoing IVF.
Obesity has been linked to infertility and even pregnancy complications. Therefore, women who are obese are advised to lose weight before they can start undergoing infertility treatment. In fact, some fertility clinics limit their IVF services to women who are below a particular BMI.
After egg collection we recommend our patient ensure a good fluid intake (2 -3 litres of water) per day to help bloating. A good diet, high in fibre and low-processed foods (fresh fruit and veg!) will also help to relieve symptoms. Exercise gently (e.g. walking) can help reduce bloating after egg collection.
Very rarely a woman might gain weight very rapidly during ovarian stimulation because of a complication known as Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome(OHSS). Fortunately most women experience only the mild form of this which includes symptoms like mild abdominal pain, nausea and slight weight gain.
After two days you can resume normal activity. You may feel some after-effects of the procedure. This can include a small amount of bloody discharge, mild cramping or bloating, and constipation. If pain continues, contact your doctor.
Related Story. It's not uncommon to gain weight during IVF treatments—data suggest that women can gain between 13 to 15 pounds per cycle. And Kourt went through eight months and at least two cycles of egg retrieval, because she shared that one round "didn't go the way we would've hoped," People reported.
Typically, egg donors can take Tylenol or Ibuprofen to help relieve any discomfort they are feeling after retrieval. However, intended mothers are advised not to take Ibuprofen as it may block prostaglandin production which will interfere with the implantation process.
Discomfort usually occurs as multiple follicles develop, causing the ovaries to enlarge. The cramping and bloating usually lasts for 7-10 days, after which your ovaries should return to their normal size. As always, listen to your body though.
Bloating is a common post egg retrieval symptom, and it is a consequence of your ovaries being enlarged. Distention and a feeling of fullness after a less than normal sized meal are also commonly linked to bloating. If it is a case of mild OHSS, these symptoms should resolve on their own in around 1-2 weeks time.
IVF can be mentally, physically and emotionally painful. In many cases, one of the biggest complaints is bloating and pain some women face during the ovarian stimulation process, where hormones are injected to produce multiple eggs for retrieval.
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), a higher body-fat percentage can also affect the success of fertility treatments, such as IVF. On the flip side, when you have a low BMI, or a low body-fat percentage, your body doesn't have enough energy to run properly.
If a woman's BMI is greater than 35, the risk of problems become more significant. We recommend speaking to your Doctor if you have any concerns.