Weight gain from fertility treatments

mskeenan · October 2015

Hi ladies . Just wanted to see if anyone else has had quite a bit of weight gain since starting treatments. I've never been "skinny " but I'm usually about where I should be weight wise but since starting treatments I feel like I can't control my weight . My weight is fluctuating so much anywhere from 10-20 lbs over my normal weight that I've been at for years . I know it sounds silly to get upset over this because the overall goal of fertility treatments is a baby and I'll do anything to achieve my goal but I just don't feel like myself . I have tried a very strict diet (whole 30 ) and nothing seems to stabilize my weight . Anyone else having this issue ? I have resisted going out to buy new clothes but now I pretty much have to - my pants won't button

I know that probably all the different hormone pills and injections have likely caused this ... But maybe it's my stress too ? I'm so frustrated to the point where I don't feel like being social because I'm self conscious . I had a client (a child ) grab my belly and ask when my baby was coming . That's how bloated I am !!

sfleiss · October 2015

I'm so sorry you are going through this, I'm about to embark on the IVF journey as well. My friend has gone through 3 IUI and 3 IVF cycles. She definitely warned me about the weight gain with the hormone injections and such with IVF. She explained that she puts on 15-20 pounds each round. She actually is a nutrionist and can't keep the weight off with diet and excercise. As aggravating as it is, I think it's just another thing that we have to suffer from during this already hard time. Best of luck!

villacis811 · October 2015

@mskeenan I went out and bought new pants. My old pants no longer buttoned. I also bought a few very loose shirts bc I feel like I am very bloated and look pregnant. I can not wear anything tight. I know exactly how you feel. I have not looked at a scale but I know I have gained weight.

mskeenan · October 2015

Thank you @sfleiss ! Ugh well at least I know I'm not crazy or just eating too much ! I thought about calorie counting but that would just stress me out more . If it's just a part of the process I guess I have to accept it . Good luck with your ivf ! Do you know when you start ? Hope you don't have this problem !!

@villacis811 I need to just give in and do that . Everytime I try to squeeze myself into something it makes me really cranky ! I think I'll be doing a lot of sweatpants . I wear scrubs to work that are usually loose and even those are tight . Guess I need a bigger size . I'm sorry you have had this problem too ! We are not alone in this !

ShayLatrice · October 2015

I'm a certified personal training and I know quite a bit about nutrition but I too gained about 13lbs while on the meds. Unfortunately you are competing against hormones, the same female hormones that cause weight gain and deposit of extra fatty tissue. The only thing you can control is what you are eating. Make sure to eat whole foods that are low in fat. Limit your bread and pasta intake as well as sugary foods. I have resolved that I'm going to focus on having a successful cycle and pregnancy and I'll worry about the weight when it is all over.

vssbrm · October 2015

You are not alone. I had to buy new pants as well. None of my old pants fit anymore, it is just the whipped topping on all of the frustrations. I have been trying so hard while I am on the progesterone to not eat everything in sight. Usually I am very strict 3 meals a day with a light snack in the morning. When I am on the progesterone I was to eat ALL the food, and nothing will stand in my way.

riveridgional · October 2015

I was pretty much sticking to wearing my yoga pants after a while, but now those no longer fit comfortably. I've broken down a few times about nothing fitting me. I keep telling myself it's gotta be bloating and I'll either be pregnant or whenever I can take enough time off from all the hormones, the bloat will go down. Here's to hoping!!

agriffin92013 · October 2015

I've had to go buy more clothes also. I watch what I eat and use elliptical but I've gained about 15 pounds. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one.

BrightenMySky · October 2015

I bought some new clothes and felt so much better. Especially for business clothes where I need to feel confident and was tired of squeezing into my suit.

beckihall · October 2015

I didn't gain anything but I was VERY bloated. To the point that I had to buy different clothes. I did get a bfp and looked pregnant right away. After I stopped the PIO everything seemed to level out and I'm not bloated anymore.

The worst part is looking pregnant when you're struggling so hard to be.

katie121209 · October 2015

Yep I've gained weight, just went and bought new jeans the other day. I figured it was stress eating since we've only done clomid with triggers.

laur2835 · October 2015

I have gained about 5 pounds but feel like 15 from menopur....I run 6 miles every day (which I cut back to since we've started all this junk) and eat super healthy mon-fri (weekends are my splurge time lol). It's so upsetting....I wouldn't mind if I were pregnant, but the fact that it's happening and all I've had so far are negatives is the worst.

WhiskyandWhiskers · October 2015

You are for sure not alone. What a mess, not only do I feel shitastic about not being able to get pregnant/carry but I also get to boost my confidence by gaining 15 pounds. Seriously, we're up against a lot, and its good to know others go through the same thing. I've personally decided to stop IUI's and everything until I drop the weight and then do IVF. Need better chances if I'm going to continue putting my body through everything.

pmnf26 · October 2015

I was about to post this question the other day. I have gained about 10-12lbs and am very frustrated over it. All my clothes are so uncomfortable even my workout/yoga pants are tight!!! I have been getting upset over this issue a lot and was wondering if I was the only one!

WhiskyandWhiskers · October 2015

@mskeenan I am also big into whole30, and have mingled with fasting. Motivation is difficult when stress is abundant. Are you doing IVF or IUI?

Colleen0516 · October 2015

Ugh is all I can say. The weight gain or the mood swings... Not sure which is worse! Lol

KLake42 · October 2015

About ten pound gain here, but I think it's mostly stress eating (medicated IUIs, not IVFs, so not the same amount of hormones).

Since I realized it was happening, I've been more careful about what I eat. I haven't gained any more, but I haven't lost any either.

takethelongway · October 2015

I am not exactly sure how much I have gained (I don't own a scale due to recovering from an eating disorder), but I know I have gained. My pants do not fit the same way and it is frustrating. What I find the most frustrating is that before treatment I was running 15-20 miles a week and lifting weights at least 3 days. But, once treatment started my nurse and RE said no more than 2 days of running and only 30-45 minutes each day and no lifting more than 25lbs. I have found it very difficult to find my balance again.

Whiggrrl65 · October 2015

I've gained 20 lbs and I'm miserable about it. Already decided that if this cycle doesn't work, I'm benching myself to get healthy in mind and body before probably starting ivf in the late winter/early spring.

katie121209 · October 2015

@Whiggrrl65 that is my plan as well. I think I'm putting a nutritionist or something on my xmas list

riveridgional · October 2015

@Whiggrrl65 My plan too. I'm giving one more round if no BFP next Sat. Then dieting and exercising (restarting my cardio boxing) until I can start ivf (if needed) in late Feb or early March .

kuposa17 · October 2015

As soon as my pants got tighter I went out and bought a bunch of new clothes and felt so much better (not great, but better). I got some really cute stuff that doesn't scream "maternity" wear but will carry me thru the 1st trimester *when* we get pregnant. That helped, mentally. Although nothing helps when I see myself naked getting into the shower, it's not like I can find cute maternity shower curtain lol! Ugh, it sucks!

jennamarie05 · October 2015

I, too, have gained some weight, and while I'm bummed, I feel that it's all worth it in the end, if I end up conceiving!

Can I ask you ladies what meds you have been on? For me, it's just been letrozole and Ovidrel so far

laur2835 · October 2015

I just ordered $250 of new yoga capris from lu lu lemon online....this thread gave me the justification to do it

lol

emgem819 · October 2015

@mskeenan I too have gained weight since starting fertility meds...I had to go out and buy new pants and some loose fitting shirts as well! It doesn't help that I have zero motivation lately to exercise because I feel so bloated and more tired than usual. I keep telling myself that once I'm pregnant I'll push myself to exercise more although that will probably be even harder so probably not a good theory I have!

teridanielle · October 2015

I have done two ivf cycles and 1 FET... with all three I gained about 12lbs. Its awful! When i started this journey in 2013 I weighed 100lbs (I'm only 5ft and pretty petite), now after three rounds of hormones I'm pushing 125. I've never been able to lose it. I do have one miracle baby so I will definitely say the weight gain was worth it, but you are not alone. I'm sure a lot of us put on some lbs. GOOD Luck!!! Try to watch what you eat!

ShayLatrice · October 2015

Since I'm waiting on my doctor to assess fibroids I'm focused on dropping some of this weight off me before she scheduled the FET. Right now I'm detoxing my body with smoothies and herbal teas and limiting what I'm eating and I'm down 3.6 lbs in 3 days. I figured because all the meds my body was processing I needed to detox my liver and kidney and that would help to reset my body... so far it is working.

Rachd110 · October 2015

Good job, @ShayLatrice!

I just started my first cycle of IVF and I'm scared of gaining weight. I keep telling myself it's going to be all worth it once I'm pregnant.

Good luck everyone!

vssbrm · October 2015

@shaylatrice that is great work, keep up the diligence!

emsmama15 · October 2015

@ShayLatrice - that's awesome!! Good for you! Are you following any specific program?

ShayLatrice · October 2015

emsmama15 I'm doing the 10 day green smoothie cleanse by JJ Smith. I've done this before and it's an easy simple plan to follow. They also have a modified version for people who don't think that can stick to smoothies and snacking only. I only do it when I'm wanting to detox my body.

J+A2008 · October 2015

shittastic and a wife with low sperm count...love it ...i needed the laugh..you ladies are awesome

and smiling made me forget temporarily about my weight gain :P (14 lbs and really really didn't need it overweight as it is)

J+A2008 · October 2015

ps-I see so many people saying they have to lose weight before ivd-can someone tell me what the weight restrictions are??

MNturnsVA · October 2015

So although I have not seen the RE yet (going on Friday) have any of you noticed weight gain from progesterone?? I feel like I've definitely put on 10 lbs in the last few months since being off BC and TTC. Now seeing this thread scares me just a tad. At this point I'm hoping i'll just need to be put on progesterone supplements and nothing else to get a BFP but I've been wrong about my expectations before.

So just curious what you think specifically has provided the weight gain? A certain med? the hormones?

Thanks!!

KatBH · October 2015

Between going off of BC and starting progesterone and estrogen I've gained about 10 pounds. It's hard to say how much of it is stress eating versus hunger caused by the hormones, but it's definitely bringing me down. I finally bought some new pants last month so at least I don't have to wear the same few pairs over and over.

mskeenan · October 2015

Yes it is so hard to say what has caused me to gain weight! I'm 6 months into treatments but currently on my fourth cycle of Femara+Gonal F followed my progesterone suppositories. For two months I was put on birth control for cysts/to allow my ovaries to calm down. I was also put on Estrace since my uterine lining was thin. I know for sure the progesterone suppositories cause the severe bloat but the overall weight gain may just be from the hormonal rollercoaster. I just don't feel like myself! I gave in and bought new pants that don't dig into my skin and that helped me feel a little bit better.

lovelifewife · November 2015

I haven't checked the scale but definitely feel self-conscious about having put on a few lbs. I am pretty petite but I feel the extra lbs are very noticeable. I can still button my pants most days but it's hard on progesterone to not feel gross. Just keep thinking of the pay off (that's what I'm trying to do). I've decided after this IUI if it doesn't work out I'm holding off on txs until I feel more like myself as well.

ShayLatrice · November 2015

I talked to my RE about it and she said to expect it, but she wanted me to keep working out because at least I won't continue to gain weight but will maintain the weight I am. I'm a pretty petite girl as well and I noticed it because I had a few more inches on my waist, hips and thighs... I've never really been a scale jumper I personally don't care what the scale says. RE told me that the hormones do help you put on some weight a lil bit quicker... the things we go through to have our lil miracle.

J+A2008 · November 2015

ugh...14 pounds here and was overweight to start with...hate it...and with that on top of bloating...sure doesn't make you feel very sexy

kated0724 · November 2015

I've gained about 10 pounds since I started. It is so aggravating because I truly haven't changed my eating habits much... if anything, I've been watching what I eat a lot more than usual! Also, I am now gluten free since August... Blaming the hormones! It totally stinks feeling so bloated/not myself all the time, but it will be worth it in the end!

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