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Kourtney Kardashian recently highlighted just how brutal IVF treatment can be on the body during an episode of the Hulu series The Kardashians.
The mom of three has been undergoing the treatment since last year, and according to the influencer, it's left her feeling depressed.
"I just feel a little bit off, not like myself, super moody and hormonal. I'm a lunatic half the time," the eldest Kardashian sister said during the episode.
The reality star, who got engaged to musician Travis Barker in October 2021, revealed that she's been trying to conceive a baby with her fiance.
However, Kourtney admitted to her mom that the process has been mentally and physically draining.
"My doctor took us down this road of doing IVF, and it hasn't been the most amazing experience," she said.
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'You have no idea what they're actually going through'
The Kardashian also shared that the treatment led to weight gain and added that she was fed up with internet trolls obsessed with her body.
"Every single person on social media is always like, 'Kourtney's pregnant! Kourtney has gained so much weight!'" she vented to her mom. "I'm like, it's so rude to comment on people when you have no idea what they're actually going through".
The star also highlighted another side effect of in vitro fertilization: menopause-like symptoms.
According to Columbia University Fertility Center expert Dr Jenna Turocy, side effects of using IVF medications tend to mimic that of menopause.
"Side-effects include pain or bruising from the injection sites as well as hot flushes, feeling down or irritable, headaches, restlessness or bloating. Many of these side effects are similar to symptoms of menopause," Dr Turocy told Today.
'They make your body crazy'
The Kardashian isn't the only celeb to share unpleasant experiences with the treatment.
During a recent interview with hosts Nikki & Brie on the Bellas Podcast, Paris Hilton described the treatment as "tough" and that it was essential to do it with the support of a partner.
Actor Brooke Shields has shared that undergoing IVF can be "quite an ordeal".
"The whole process.... we became slaves to the time of day and to little vials of liquid," Shields previously commented.
Actor Aisha Tyler described her IVF treatment as "torture".
"We went through the process. There are all these shots, they make your body crazy, they make you emotional, they hurt... But we just decided it wasn’t worth it to go through that and so we decided to stop. It was better to not go through that torture."
What has IVF treatment been like for you?
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