u/Emergency-Story-1950

Hi everyone,

I’m really stressed and hoping for advice or similar experiences.

I’m about to start IVF soon and I’ve gained weight very suddenly. I went from around 99 lbs to 106 lbs, which is a huge jump for my frame, and it’s freaking me out. I know 7 lbs may not sound like a lot to some people, but on my body it feels very noticeable, especially in my lower belly.

For context:

I do OMAD and have for a while
I haven’t had alcohol in about three months
I haven’t changed my eating in any major way
I’m taking IVF/fertility supplements
I’m about to begin IVF meds soon
I feel puffy/bloated, especially around my lower abdomen

I’m trying to understand whether this could be water retention, constipation, inflammation, hormonal changes, stress/cortisol, supplements, or something else IVF-related. I’m not looking for medical diagnosis, just trying to hear from people who have gone through this because I feel like my body changed overnight.

Did anyone else gain weight or get very bloated before even starting IVF injections, just from prep, supplements, stress, or cycle changes? Did it go back down? Is there anything that helped you feel less puffy without doing anything unsafe before IVF?

I’m going to check with my clinic too, but I’d really appreciate hearing real experiences because I’m panicking.

Hi everyone,

I’m really stressed and hoping for advice or similar experiences

I’m about to start IVF soon and I’ve gained weight very suddenly. I went from around 99 lbs to 106 lbs, which is a huge jump for my frame, and it’s freaking me out. I know 7 lbs may not sound like a lot to some people, but on my body it feels very noticeable, especially in my lower belly.

For context:

I do OMAD and have for a while

I haven’t had alcohol in about three months

I haven’t changed my eating in any major way

I’m taking IVF/fertility supplements

I’m about to begin IVF meds soon

I feel puffy/bloated, especially around my lower abdomen

I’m trying to understand whether this could be water retention, constipation, inflammation, hormonal changes, stress/cortisol, supplements, or something else IVF-related. I’m not looking for medical diagnosis, just trying to hear from people who have gone through this because I feel like my body changed overnight.

Did anyone else gain weight or get very bloated before even starting IVF injections, just from prep, supplements, stress, or cycle changes? Did it go back down? Is there anything that helped you feel less puffy without doing anything unsafe before IVF?

I’m going to check with my clinic too, but I’d really appreciate hearing real experiences because I’m panicking.

Hi everyone, I’m deciding between NYU Langone and Columbia for IVF in NYC and would really appreciate insight from anyone who’s been to either.

I had a consult with NYU (Dr. Grifo), and I’m scheduled with Dr. Lobo at Columbia, but not for a couple of months. I’ve been preparing for a while, so I’m unsure whether to wait or move forward sooner.

For context, I’m 40, and my numbers have improved over time. My AMH went from 0.08 to 1.0, and my FSH went from 14 to 9, which I feel good about, but timing still matters.

What’s confusing me is the pricing.

NYU’s website says IVF with PGT is about $20,400, but the detailed fee schedule they sent shows closer to $27K+ before medications. When I factor in meds, genetic testing, and transfer, it looks more like $30K–$38K.

Columbia, based on what I’ve been told so far, seems closer to a $14.6K base IVF cost, plus anesthesia, PGT biopsy, genetic testing, medications, and storage. That sounds more like $20K–$26K total, but I’m still waiting on official numbers.

I would love to hear:

What did you actually pay all in at NYU or Columbia, including medications, PGT, and transfer?
Were there any surprise costs that weren’t clear upfront?
If you went with NYU, did you feel the higher cost was worth it?
If you went with Columbia, how did you feel about the care and lab quality?
Would you wait a couple of months for Columbia or start sooner with NYU?

I really liked NYU and Dr. Grifo, but I want to make the smartest decision both financially and medically, especially since I would love more than one child.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate any insight. 🙏