Think you have IVF brain fog? It’s a real thing – and here’s what you can do about it

Is IVF brain fog a thing?  What does it mean?  And how can I stop it from happening?

Here at TRB, we know from very personal experience that injecting IVF stimulation hormones each day (sometimes twice a day, actually) is no small thing. 

You can experience IVF bloating – peep our expert guide on how to reduce it after egg collection – IVF constipation, bruising from injections, mood swings, and all sorts of emotions as you navigate. And to top it all off, you might find yourself forgetting things too. 

When you’re trying to keep track of when to inject and which hormones you might need to take with you out to dinner, the last thing you need is to start losing track of what’s what. 

But that’s exactly what happened to me – and many other women talk of experiencing a “brain fog” during IVF, too.

Brain fog – one of the lesser discussed IVF side effects

Let me start by saying I’m a very organised person.  In fact, friends and family consider me to be anally organised so I felt confident (perhaps read: cocky) when I first spoke to the nurses at the fertility clinic about what drugs to take and when. 

With the upcoming weeks perfectly planned out, and a few social occasions cancelled so I wouldn’t be tempted to have a small glass of wine, I was prepped and ready to jab, jab, jab.

Until, of course, I found the injections affected my brain. In quite a big way.

Watch next: IVF stim lengths – why and how can they vary?

My IVF brain fog experience

One evening over the summer, I drove back to my parents’ house an hour away, feeling assured I had packed everything I needed for the next few days – including my IVF meds.

On returning home in the evening, I couldn’t find the fyremadel for the next morning.  Irritated with myself, I hop in the car and drive an hour back home.  Fyremadel needle collected, I wearily trudge back to the car. 

Why didn’t I stay at home?  Because I had a 7:45 AM clinic appointment and no one wants an hour’s drive in rush hour on a Monday morning. 

And you’ll never guess what – actually, you probably will – I found another fyremadel needle in my handbag; it had been with me all the way to my parents’ house, all the way back home and all the way to my parents’ the second time. 

It’s easy to say this could have been avoided if I checked my bag properly when I arrived home but I felt like I did.  And that’s the problem with IVF brain – the fog prevents you from seeing clearly.  It’s tiresome and frustrating.

Exhausted, even more annoyed at myself and eager to stop the IVF drugs, I went straight to bed.

What causes IVF brain fog?

IVF brain fog is thought to happen for a couple of different reasons. These might include:

1. Hormonal changes

There’s a lot going on in your body hormonally during IVF. Studies have shown that increased progesterone levels can cause fatigue, and estrogen imbalance is said to contribute to cloudy thinking and brain fog.

2. Medication side effects

Some IVF medications can cause side effects such as nausea, tiredness, increased emotions and mood swings, all of which can contribute to not feeling your best.

3. Stress and anxiety

IVF stress can run high when you’re going through a cycle, and there are many moving parts – including financing treatment, fear of failed attempts, and juggling all of your work and life obligations.

In a nutshell – it is a combination of these factors that is thought to cause brain fog, and similar feelings of overwhelm and exhaustion during treatment.