Exercise

[gemmy999]

Hi, a previous post has just got me thinking about exercise during stims. I workout 4/5 times a week doing boot camp style classes. Now I’m worried I shouldn’t be exercising to this level. I have always planned to stop in the 2WW but have carried on as normal up till now. I have a scan Tuesday and if all ok EC Thursday. Should I be resting this week and not exercising? I don’t want to jeopardise anything. I’ve been on google but still confused as to best advice. My clinic didn’t mention it at all. Thank you x

[Binky1983]

I’m not in the same situation as you so not sure. But I could be wrong but in pregnancy itself I was always under the impression that if you’re already quite an active person then you can carry on but at a lower intensity, but if you don’t exercise regularly then you shouldn’t start something new. You could always reduce the intensity and if you’re really concerned I would ask the clinic. X

[gemmy999 in reply to Binky1983]

Thank you for your reply Binky1983, I’ll call the clinic but I think I’ll start taking it easy anyway and just walk. X

[lianm8]

I go to the gym regularly and do a lot of swimming. My clinic told me I was ok to exercise until around now (I’m on day 7 of stims) and to stop after that, especially swimming because off all the chemicals. I know you are ok to exercise as normal through pregnancy tho not sure if it’s just through end part of stimming and tww etc. Xx

You are best to check with your clinic all seem to advise differently. Xx

[gemmy999 in reply to lianm8]

Hi Lianm8, thanks for your reply. I’m Day 9 of Stims today. As I’m having a scan tomo I’ll take it easy. Sounds like stopping is the advice from most. Make sense. X

[Scarlett13]

I'm a very active person too but I stop all exercise other than walking when doing my injections, and when I'm waiting for embryo transfer and on the 2ww.... you don't want to go twisting any follicles! X

[gemmy999 in reply to Scarlett13]

Hi Scarlett13, I hadn’t even thought of stopping exercise. The clinic aren’t very good and given advice out! But with the risk of torsion, which I’ve just learnt they should give better advice. Thank you x

[overtherainbow22]

I was advised to cut it right down to only walking the dogs during the cycles. I started exercising again properly at 12 wks xx

[gemmy999 in reply to overtherainbow22]

Hi, thanks for your reply. I’ll take it is from now on x

[Hidden]

Hi. I worked out with a trainer twice a week(circuits and weights) and also ran over 5km a week. About a week or so into stimulation it started to get a bit more uncomfortable as my ovaries were large and I read online re the risk of ovarian torsion and also some thoughts about raised body temperature. The doctors at the clinic (NHS) were a bit vague and some said no strenuous exercise and another said to do what felt comfortable. To be honest, as I got closer to EC, even walking gave me a dragging sensation in my pelvis. After egg collection, they were more direct and said no gym until after pregnancy test.

There does not seem to be much consistent advice. Listen to your body and do what feels right for you but ovarian torsion is a risk (the ovaries get enlarged when there are lots of follicles and they can twist on themselves). Good luck xxx

[gemmy999 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Zoe_waning, thanks for your reply. I’m in the clinic tomo so I’ll see what there advice is. I need to learn to listen to me body a bit more. I’ve got some pain and only have had pain since Friday and I’ve not exercised since then so hopefully I haven’t done any damage. X

[Lizzielizzielizzie]

Don’t do things that work your core, if your ovaries have swollen a lot then you can end up with ovarian torsion. It’s not a definite link but it’s a suspected link between exercise and ovarian torsion, and it is the reason my clinic say no exercise for a few weeks after egg collection. Hope that helps.

[gemmy999 in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

Hi Lizzie, thanks for your advice, I’m hoping my pains are a good sign and I have more follicles than just the 1 on my last scan. I think that’s why I have continued as normal until now cause I did not feel any change. I was just concerned my ovaries hadn’t responded cause I was exercising. X

[Franco81]

I do the same kind of thing and although I felt up to doing it in my first round, I read something about the fact that as our ovaries are stretching to produce more follicles than they normally would, there’s a risk of twisting or tearing. I guess this is more likely with more high intensity exercise.

To be honest I’m not 100% sure what the guidelines are but that did scare me a bit so I stopped during stimming until after the tww (we had a BFN but I’m not sure about if it’s a BFP)

Good luck xx

[gemmy999 in reply to Franco81]

Hi Franco81, it is scary and the clinic did not make me aware of the risk! Hopefully I have more follicles now I have some pain. And I’ll rest from now on. X

[Franco81 in reply to gemmy999]

Our clinic didn’t either! That does make me question some things I read but I didn’t want to risk it just for a couple of weeks.

Really hope it goes well for you x

[gemmy999 in reply to Franco81]

Hi, I like to take people’s advice through all their experience. Thank you. Good luck on your journey x

[VTier]

Hi.. i was in the gym 2-4 days a week before my treatment.. I don’t do much but I call it exercise

I limited myself to the elliptical machine when i started my stims as I don’t feel comfortable doing more.. I still take a dip in the pool, i love swimming, until my 9th injection.. But ill not hit the gym in the next weeks.. EC tomorrow.. And ill take it easy..

For yourself, just do what is comfortable for you.. Exercise is good but feel for your body’s signs/symptoms..

Goodluck..

[gemmy999 in reply to VTier]

Hi VTier, thanks for your reply. It makes sense to rest after everything I’ve read now. But had not thought about it before. I would have just pushed through this week and exercised through it! Im glad I’ve found out the risks. And will just walk. I am sore this weekend but don’t feel like my ovaries are large! So wouldn’t know if it would be uncomfortable to exercise. But wouldn’t risk it. Good luck for tomo xx

[Lojane]

My reply isn’t related specifically to the stims/2WW but is a general point about high intensity exercise. My daughter has developed HA ( hypothalamic ammenorhea) due to the high intensity exercise that she took up after being diagnosed with PCOS. HA is not limited to elite athletes and can occur at any body weight. It is important not to have an energy deficit as a result of exercise. In my daughter’s case it has complicated her PCOS diagnosis because she now has both conditions. Certainly for my daughter the advice had been to cut done on exercise.

[gemmy999 in reply to Lojane]

Hi Lojane, thank you for your reply and sharing your daughters experiences. I just wish my clinic gave advice initially. I wish your daughter lots of luck. X

[lorraineb61]

I've asked this question about 3 times to drs & nurses and get 3 different answers!!! I train in a gym, have PT once a week & shift some pretty substantial weights. The general consensus was just to watch what I was doing & perhaps reduce the weights. However, I found that during stims I actually didn't feel like going to the gym. As others have mentioned though, particularly if you have a large number of follicles then you need to be careful of ovarian torsion. Good luck for EC xx

[gemmy999 in reply to lorraineb61]

Hi Lorraineb61, thank you for your reply. I waiting for my clinic to call me back. I don’t seem to have a large number of follicles but I do have some pain so it’s hard to know if I’ll do damage or not. Which is why it’s best to not risk it. I’m getting scanned tomo morn anyway. X

[lorraineb61]

If you are suffering then avoid the gym - it will still be there - it's much more important at this time to look after yourself. xx

[gemmy999 in reply to lorraineb61]

Thank you. Your right x