Body-positive influencer Chessie King has shared a remarkably simple yet effective technique that helped her manage discomfort during an intensive course of IVF treatment. The social media personality, who boasts nearly 700,000 devoted followers, disclosed the chocolate-based method during a recent podcast appearance.
The Gruelling IVF Journey
King, who welcomed her daughter Auraelia via caesarean section in July 2021, has been transparent about her struggles to conceive a second child. She experienced a miscarriage in 2025 before embarking on IVF treatment, which doctors recommended as the safest option due to her left ovary being attached to her uterus and her diagnosis of endometriosis.
A Daunting Injection Regimen
Throughout her treatment, King faced the challenging task of administering medication to herself through injections a total of 148 times. She initially found the process difficult, particularly when injecting herself in the stomach, leg, or thigh areas where the medication needed to be delivered.
The breakthrough came when she discovered a sensory distraction technique that significantly reduced her discomfort. "The best piece of advice if anyone is going through it, or is about to start injections, is pop a bit of chocolate - if you don't like chocolate, a sweet, or something that you savour - and pop it in just before you're about to inject and just focus on the taste," King explained.
The Chocolate Distraction Method
King described her specific approach: "I melted this piece and I'd always have this one specific chocolate and I'd put it in, and it would just melt. And I'd do the injection... all I could taste and think about was what I was eating. It was amazing! It was like my brain was just tricking."
She noted the surprising effectiveness of this simple technique, stating: "It's so weird, you genuinely don't feel them as much." The method works by redirecting the brain's attention from the injection sensation to the pleasurable experience of tasting chocolate or another favourite treat.
From Discomfort to Appreciation
Remarkably, King revealed that she eventually reached a stage where she "loved" administering the injections, despite the initial discomfort. This shift in perspective came from recognizing that each injection represented progress toward her goal of conceiving her second child.
The influencer shared these insights during an appearance on Giovanna Fletcher's "Happy Mum Happy Baby" podcast, broadcast on March 10. During the same conversation, she also discussed managing her husband's postnatal depression and the difficult period that nearly ended their marriage.
King's candid approach to discussing fertility challenges, mental health, and practical coping strategies has resonated with her substantial following, who appreciate her "big sister-style" content covering motherhood, relationships, and personal health journeys.
