Hwang Bo-ra faces severe physical side effects during IVF for second child

Actress Hwang Bo-ra experienced severe facial swelling and skin troubles after receiving growth hormone injections to aid follicle growth. Despite facing diminished ovarian reserve and the risk of empty follicles, she continues her attempt to conceive a second child.

Actress Hwang Bo-ra has faced unexpected physical changes during her journey to prepare for a second pregnancy. After receiving growth hormone injections for IVF (in vitro fertilization), she experienced severe facial swelling and skin troubles. While her altered appearance, which made it difficult even to keep her eyes open, drew sympathy, Hwang Bo-ra has not easily abandoned her challenge for a second child despite repeated procedure failures and side effects.

On the 20th, a video was released on the YouTube channel 'Hwang Bo-ra Variety' documenting her process of preparing for IVF to conceive a second child. In the video, Hwang Bo-ra felt a sense of hope after hearing news that two follicles had formed. However, that joy was short-lived as the hospital explained that due to diminished ovarian reserve, there was a high possibility that the discovered follicles were empty follicles (no actual egg present).

Months later, after follicles were discovered again, Hwang Bo-ra decided to attempt IVF once more. This time, a doctor prescribed growth hormone injections to aid follicle growth. However, Hwang Bo-ra had reasons to hesitate before taking the injections, as she had experienced the side effect of severe facial swelling after receiving hormone injections in the past. Despite remembering the changes that occurred in her body, she had to find the courage again for the goal of a second pregnancy.

Her concerns became a reality. Her subsequent appearance was markedly different from before. Her face was severely swollen and she had developed skin troubles, appearing to struggle even to keep her eyes open. The change was so striking it evoked the common online expression, "Who are you?" However, rather than evaluating her appearance, the scene served to demonstrate the significant physical burden experienced during the IVF process.

Most poignantly, this is not the first time Hwang Bo-ra has experienced such changes. The cycle of hope upon finding follicles, the anxiety of potential empty follicles, and the physical burden of preparing for procedures has repeated. The process of preparing for pregnancy is not merely about visiting hospitals for procedures; it involves a constant intersection of tension and expectation while waiting for results, alongside the significant burden of managing bodily changes.

Of course, one cannot conclude the exact cause or medical state of the facial swelling and skin troubles based solely on the video. As responses to hormone-related treatments can vary by individual, it is important to consult medical professionals to confirm causes and adjust treatment plans if suspected side effects appear. In Hwang Bo-ra's case, it is necessary to look beyond the changes in appearance and consider the physical burden and subsequent worries experienced during the pregnancy preparation process.

Hwang Bo-ra married Cha Hyun-woo, the son of Kim Yong-gun and brother of actor Ha Jung-woo, in 2022, and they have one son. While attempting IVF again to welcome a second child following her first, she is not letting go of hope despite the difficult process. Her struggle, which has caused her appearance to change, evokes sympathy, but behind it lies a desperate desire to expand her family. The video released by Hwang Bo-ra showed that the challenge toward a second pregnancy is not a journey filled only with joy and hope.

Read the original (Korean)