Whitney Port has revealed that she is delaying her next IVF embryo transfer after admitting she feels 'too weak' following a gruelling hernia surgery that proved far more painful and limiting than she expected.
The former The Hills star, 41, originally hoped to undergo the transfer towards the end of October. But after struggling with her recovery, including discomfort while walking and moving, Port has decided to give her body more time to heal before continuing with her fertility treatment.
Whitney Port Says She's 'Too Weak' for IVF
Port opened up about her recovery during the 2 October episode of her With Whit podcast, describing the operation as a 'nightmare' and admitting she had 'completely underestimated everything about that entire surgery'.
Two weeks after the procedure, she said: 'What a nightmare that was. What a freaking nightmare. I completely underestimated everything about that entire surgery.'
Port had expected the experience to be more comparable to an egg retrieval for IVF. Instead, she said surgeons made three separate incisions in her abdomen.
The recovery has left her dealing with discomfort during everyday activities. In an Instagram post shared on 1 October, Port showed her surgical scars and bruising, explaining that walking and moving had been uncomfortable and that even wearing a seatbelt caused a 'little bit of pulling' in her abdomen.
For Port, the physical recovery has now directly affected the next stage of her IVF journey.
'Mentally, I'm, like, super ready for the transfer and just like so ready to get it done with, but I just feel too weak,' she said. She has decided not to rush into the procedure.
Why Port Needed Hernia Surgery Before IVF
Port previously explained that having the hernia repaired was an important step before moving forward with IVF.
During an August episode of With Whit, she said her doctor had warned that the hernia could 'just grow, burst and be really painful'. Although Port said the condition would not necessarily prevent a successful embryo transfer, she wanted to be 'as healthy as I possibly can be' before continuing treatment.
The surgery was consequently planned as part of her preparations for another attempt at having a baby.
Port, who shares nine-year-old son Sonny with husband Tim Rosenman, has been open about the couple's previous struggles with miscarriages and their efforts to expand their family.
The Recovery Was Far From 'Forced Relaxation'
Port had expected the timing of her surgery to work in her favour.
After attending Fashion Week, she planned to return home for the procedure and imagined the recovery would provide some much-needed downtime.
'I timed this so perfectly. I'm going to go to Fashion Week, and then I'm going to come home and get this hernia surgery, and it's going to be like forced relaxation for me,' she recalled.
Instead, she experienced what she described as 'constant discomfort'.
Port also spoke about the emotional impact of being forced to slow down. She said she found herself 'sitting around feeling super, super depressed', rather than enjoying the restful recovery she had imagined.
She described the hernia itself as 'this big big bulge coming out of my body, like, right above my vagina'.
Despite the difficult recovery, Port now believes she is beginning to improve.
'I'm feeling hopeful, like, I can feel what it's going to feel like to be normal,' she said.
Whitney Port Pushes Back Her Embryo Transfer
Port's original plan was to undergo her embryo transfer at the end of October, but she no longer believes that gives her enough time to recover fully.
'I just don't think this month is enough time to really fully recover,' she said.
Instead, she plans to wait another month and a half to two months before proceeding.
The decision appears to be a temporary delay rather than a change in her plans for another child. Port has made clear that she remains mentally ready for the transfer, but wants her physical recovery to catch up first.
'I don't want a baby going in this body right now,' she explained. 'So, I'm going to give it another two months, a month and a half, and then do the transfer.'
Port added: 'I really want my body to be in, like, optimal shape for the transfer.'
For now, her IVF plans are on hold while she continues recovering from the surgery.
After expecting a short period of 'forced relaxation', Port has instead faced a painful and emotionally difficult recovery. But her latest update suggests she is beginning to feel more positive about the road ahead—and is choosing to wait until she feels physically ready before taking the next step in her IVF journey.
