IVF drugs making my face so round

[sunflower60]

I am nearly 11 weeks pregnant through IVF and still taking lots of medications including prednisolone steroids which I think are the culprit making my face really bloated and round. Has anyone else experienced this and did it go down once you got to 12 weeks and stopped taking the drugs? I haven't told work I'm pregnant and need to go into the office next week and goodness knows how I will hide it as I have a rounded tummy already and very round face. I'm so grateful to be pregnant but feeling very self conscious.

Hi @sunflower60 it's a common side effect of steroids called "moon face" if you have a bit of a google you should find some info on it

@sunflower60 I'm sorry I can't advise but it does sound like the steroids are the culprit!

I've just been referred for IVF and didn't know that meds continued into the pregnancy! Is this usual or only in specific cases? I hope you don't mind me asking

Thanks @Gardenlady543. I will Google it. I definitely have a moon face, not that I'm complaining .
Yes @ChristmasJumpers I've always had to continue medication until 12 weeks when I've had a positive result. I think that's normal but I'm sure your clinic will advise. Good luck!

@sunflower60 yeah, as others said, it'll be the prednisolone doing that. I had moon face from taking them in March and April and I think it's a bit better now, but it takes some time to go away.

Thanks @thislittlebird. I am due to stop them next week so was hoping it would go within days but I may need to be patient 🤦.

@sunflower60 yeah unfortunately it’ll usually take a bit longer, especially if you’ve been on them a while. There’s some dietary advice online though which might be worth a read.

Thank you @thislittlebird. I'll read up x

I said this and then I went out for the first time today in ages with make up on I realised my moon face is very much still there when I smile. Can’t stand it, I really thought it had gone but because I’m not looking at myself and smiling a lot I didn’t realise it hadn’t completely gone. Ugh. Hate this, this isn’t my face, it’s been two or three months off of prednisolone.