IVF - Side effects? Painful?

I will be going for my first IVF in a month's time and I will like to know are there any side effects/discomfort from taking the drugs and injections and is the whole process painful? Any info to prepare me for this IVF is greatly appreciated. Thanks

I had 2 complaints in both my IVF's- one was bloating because of the meds (you will have several follicles growing instead of normal 1 or 2) You should exercise very moderately if you do during your meds so as not to burst the follicles and also during your 2 ww. I was too scared to exercise but no exercise drove me crazy.


Second and more painful in some respects, is purely emotional where you analyze every twinge, every muscle you feel; I was irritable and cranky more than usual and I think its heightened due to the huge increase in hormones which in turn is due to the meds.


Both egg retrieval (under anesthesia)/ embryo transfer processes were not painful and neither were the injections. But I think this is very personal and depends on how you feel about needles. I don't care so it does not bother me.


Goodluck, Babyashley!

Thanks for your advice , 788. I am glad to hear from you that beside the bloatedness, there isn't any other side effects. But I believe that the 2 ww will be harder than the meds and needles. Thanks again!!

hi babyashley,


NO, it's not painful, even if the injections in my tummy looked like a connect the dot already with bruises, even if it cost a fortune.......the most painful part for me was the result, i did it twice and both failed, that was the most painful thing i had experienced. That's why they say IVF is for the brave only.


My advice is - Have a high expectation that you will succeed, be positive, a lot of people had great success on this.......but be prepared for the worst too.


Take care. Good luck. Wish you all the best on your IVF.