Gaining weight on fertility drugs?

TinaDom · 06-07-2008, 12:54 AM

Does anyone know if I can expect to gain weight when I start fertility meds for an IVF cycle? I am already heavy enough and the thought of adding more weight on isn't exactly thrilling me to death.

MaggieMay · 06-07-2008, 07:52 AM

I gained weight with the progesterone, which I know you will also be on with IVF. I gained 15 lbs over my last three cycles TTC. Progesterone makes me feel like I can't get enough to eat, and it's hard to tell my body that it's just the hormones and I'm not really starving.

I am currently doing Weight Watchers, which my RE said is fine to do while TTC, as it is a very reasonable plan without meds. They focus on high fiber and lots of fruits and veggies, so nothing that is going to hurt your chances of conceiving. My RE says the loss might actually help with my FT.

TinaDom · 06-07-2008, 11:38 PM

Thanks MaggieMay -
Sorry to be such a newbie, but could you tell me what the progesterone is used for? And at what point in the cycle?
Also I am happy to hear that WW can be an option while going through the IVF journey.

MaggieMay · 06-08-2008, 07:46 AM

Progesterone is produced by the follicles on your ovaries. Because with IVF the doc will be removing the follicles for fertilization outside of your body, your body would not be able to produce enough progesterone to support a pregnancy on it's own. I am doing IUI, but a lot of RE's prescribe progesterone support (oral, suppositories, or injections) to women doing IUI's as well just as a precaution. I start mine on the third day after my first IUI (I do two IUI's back to back each cycle) and continue until I get a negative HCG blood test or my period comes. If I get pregnant, I'll be on it until about 10 weeks into the pregnancy.

The injections sound awful, but I would ask for PIO (progesterone in oil) suspended in ethyl oleate, which is the thinnist medium so that you can use the thinnist needle possible (25gauge).

I am not sure at what point you would be starting progesterone, I'd imagine sometime shortly after or right at your egg retrieval. Also be sure to check with your doctor that he doesn't mind you doing WW while TTC.

If you have ANY more questions, please feel free to ask them!

FYI - the stim injections don't hurt at all, so no worries about them!

~Maggie

linden · 06-30-2008, 10:42 AM

TinaDom---I have gained 15 lbs. since January when I started medicate IUI cycles. I got pregnant in Feb, but miscarried in April. I don't know if it's the hormones or the stress of infertility that have caused the weight gain, or perhaps a combination of both. I was overweight to begin with, so the fact that I have gained so much in the last 6 months is making me feel crappy.

StaciMN · 07-07-2008, 03:07 PM

pg ment
I did not gain but it also seemed to go much faster than my IUI cycles. My IVF was successful and I had pretty bad ms for the first five months (yes five not three) so that helped with any weight gain though I would not rec as a diet plan- it is effective.

brown_eyed_girl · 07-07-2008, 04:10 PM

I'm doing IUIs with injectables, and while I haven't gained anything, I'm definitely bloated and my clothes aren't fitting me the way they used to. It's crazy, especially because the scale hasn't moved. I will do one more IUI before moving on to IVF and am definitely concerned about the possible weight gain. It will be worth it in the long run, but it's still a concern.

LMKH · 07-12-2008, 01:40 PM

I gained 5 pounds a cycle when on fertility treatments. There seemed to be nothing I could do about it. It was as if my metabolism shut down. It was generally in the luteal phase time when on progestone or when on clomid.

BabyHeartache · 07-18-2008, 08:36 PM

yes and i cant stop eating like a horse on these meds...usually a week or two following the shots ending!
hormones i guess .... and depression from failed cycles :-( Food is my only comfort and friend during these times
it seems to taper back off though and i bounce back to old weight after off meds a while

irishscot74 · 08-07-2008, 05:40 PM

I've also noticed that I've been a lot hungrier since I started the shots. Seems like I eat something, not even carbs and I get hungry again an hour later. Not sure if it is the hormones or stress, but the couple of pounds I've gained has made me feel crappy which leads to eating more and the cycle goes round and round.

06-07-2008, 12:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
TinaDom Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 34	Gaining weight on fertility drugs? Does anyone know if I can expect to gain weight when I start fertility meds for an IVF cycle? I am already heavy enough and the thought of adding more weight on isn't exactly thrilling me to death.

07-18-2008, 08:36 PM	#9 (permalink)
BabyHeartache 300-399 post 5 of hearts Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 358	yes and i cant stop eating like a horse on these meds...usually a week or two following the shots ending! hormones i guess .... and depression from failed cycles :-( Food is my only comfort and friend during these times it seems to taper back off though and i bounce back to old weight after off meds a while __________________ Dana Age 33/TTC 4+ years Male Factor IUI #1 03/23/08 BFN IUI #2 06/09/08 BFN IUI #3 08/14/08 BFN IVF#1 Retrieval 12/05/08-8 retrieved/7 fertilized Transfer 12/10/08 Two 5 day blastocysts Beta 12/22/08 BFP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What is meant to be will always find its way....

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06-07-2008, 07:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
MaggieMay Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Middle Georgia Posts: 586	I gained weight with the progesterone, which I know you will also be on with IVF. I gained 15 lbs over my last three cycles TTC. Progesterone makes me feel like I can't get enough to eat, and it's hard to tell my body that it's just the hormones and I'm not really starving. I am currently doing Weight Watchers, which my RE said is fine to do while TTC, as it is a very reasonable plan without meds. They focus on high fiber and lots of fruits and veggies, so nothing that is going to hurt your chances of conceiving. My RE says the loss might actually help with my FT.

06-07-2008, 11:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
TinaDom Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 34	Thanks MaggieMay - Sorry to be such a newbie, but could you tell me what the progesterone is used for? And at what point in the cycle? Also I am happy to hear that WW can be an option while going through the IVF journey.

06-08-2008, 07:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
MaggieMay Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Middle Georgia Posts: 586	Progesterone is produced by the follicles on your ovaries. Because with IVF the doc will be removing the follicles for fertilization outside of your body, your body would not be able to produce enough progesterone to support a pregnancy on it's own. I am doing IUI, but a lot of RE's prescribe progesterone support (oral, suppositories, or injections) to women doing IUI's as well just as a precaution. I start mine on the third day after my first IUI (I do two IUI's back to back each cycle) and continue until I get a negative HCG blood test or my period comes. If I get pregnant, I'll be on it until about 10 weeks into the pregnancy. The injections sound awful, but I would ask for PIO (progesterone in oil) suspended in ethyl oleate, which is the thinnist medium so that you can use the thinnist needle possible (25gauge). I am not sure at what point you would be starting progesterone, I'd imagine sometime shortly after or right at your egg retrieval. Also be sure to check with your doctor that he doesn't mind you doing WW while TTC. If you have ANY more questions, please feel free to ask them! FYI - the stim injections don't hurt at all, so no worries about them! ~Maggie

06-30-2008, 10:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
linden 800-899 post 10 of hearts Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Summit, NJ Posts: 804	TinaDom---I have gained 15 lbs. since January when I started medicate IUI cycles. I got pregnant in Feb, but miscarried in April. I don't know if it's the hormones or the stress of infertility that have caused the weight gain, or perhaps a combination of both. I was overweight to begin with, so the fact that I have gained so much in the last 6 months is making me feel crappy.

07-07-2008, 03:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
StaciMN Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 318	pg ment I did not gain but it also seemed to go much faster than my IUI cycles. My IVF was successful and I had pretty bad ms for the first five months (yes five not three) so that helped with any weight gain though I would not rec as a diet plan- it is effective.

07-07-2008, 04:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
brown_eyed_girl 800-899 post 10 of hearts Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 810	I'm doing IUIs with injectables, and while I haven't gained anything, I'm definitely bloated and my clothes aren't fitting me the way they used to. It's crazy, especially because the scale hasn't moved. I will do one more IUI before moving on to IVF and am definitely concerned about the possible weight gain. It will be worth it in the long run, but it's still a concern.

07-12-2008, 01:40 PM	#8 (permalink)
LMKH 200-299 post 4 of hearts Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Flower Mound, TX Posts: 260	I gained 5 pounds a cycle when on fertility treatments. There seemed to be nothing I could do about it. It was as if my metabolism shut down. It was generally in the luteal phase time when on progestone or when on clomid.

08-07-2008, 05:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
irishscot74 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: MA Posts: 80	I've also noticed that I've been a lot hungrier since I started the shots. Seems like I eat something, not even carbs and I get hungry again an hour later. Not sure if it is the hormones or stress, but the couple of pounds I've gained has made me feel crappy which leads to eating more and the cycle goes round and round.