Exercise

[JenKath]

I’m sure this has been asked before but I wondered what people do about exercise in the month before ivf and during? Pre ivf I exercised every day, with a combination of cross training, weights and yoga. You could say exercise was my thing! 😂 For our first round of treatment I stopped going to the gym and just did walking - about an hour plus a day and gentle yoga. I did nothing but walking during a stimulation and tww.

Our first fresh and frozen transfers were unsuccessful and now we are starting again in August. Should I not be doing anything between now and then or can I do cross training at the gym? I would love to hear what people have done?

Thanks 🙏🏻

[Kari55]

I’m a Pilates instructor and last time I carried on until egg collection as nobody told me to stop and I didn’t think to ask. My new fertility consultant told me that I’m not allowed to do this, only walking during stimulation and after. Apparently it can cause torsion if swollen ovaries.

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi JenKath. I would tone everything right down from stims onwards. There’s lots going on your pelvis and you can risk scarring and twisting ”things” if you go too mad. As Kari55 says, walking is good! Diane

[JenKath in reply to DianeArnold]

Thanks Diane, will stick to walking from stims onward! Do you think it is to go to the gym to do sessions on the cross trainer in the month leading up to treatment or should I just stick to walking in the months between treatments? I have been going to the gym 2/3 times a week....

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to JenKath]

Hi. I’m sure that would be fine, but you need to switch of when stims start. That’s my advice. Enjoy your exercise up to that point. Diane

[Hidden]

I went off everything except walking, once I started the treatment.

Xxx

[Hidden]

I stopped going to the gym during my stimulation. When it didn’t work- I went back a week later and back into training until my next cycle which was a frozen transfer. Now I’m almost 12 weeks pregnant after the frozen transfer. During stimulation there is a risk of ovarian torsion but I can’t think of any reason why you couldn’t exercise between cycles if that is what you are used to doing. (Unless you had hyperstimulation issues). X

[Wishfully]

Yes, go for it and exercise as much as you like before starting stims (by the way it’s also fine to exercise while down-regging if you’re doing a frozen transfer). Exercise is an excellent mood lifter, I think if you have the energy and the inclination then it’s one of the best things you can do for yourself xx

[sandra81]

I don’t know. I am not an athletic person and am basically a couch potato. However I weighed 106kgs before I started de ivf. So 4 months before I started exercising running, lifting some weights etc by the time I went for egg transfer I could run 5km and lift a total of 10 kgs from 0 and had lost to about 95kgs. I continued with my exercise until 2 days before transfer but that was because it was too hot and I did not want to dehydrated myself by running outside. I got a BFP. However many people in the different ivf groups I belonged to were telling me to stop exercising. After transfer I kept up with walking even the day of transfer I walked 2km. During the 2 week wait I also kept walking everyday and all of a sudden i started feeling tired and lethargic and could not walk anymore. Test showed a p. Since then I have not exercised one bit. I have gained a lot of weight and am hoping after the babies come I will be able to start my routine again. So I am sorry there is no one answer for the question on whether or not to exercise but maybe high energy high impact may not be good. But frankly I think no one knows

[sandra81]

Forgot to mention that I was using de so no risk of ovarian contortion

[Sarah_a_2018]

I’m a powerlifter and I occasionally do crossfit and was told I could keep lifting but to take it easy from when stimulation starts, I kept training up until egg collection then completely rested during the 2WW, my first cycle was unsuccessful but it wasn’t because I exercised - exercise is the best thing for keeping your body and mind healthy so long as your not exhausting yourself training to max intensity all the time, really disappointing the lack of knowledge around exercise and fertility. There’s a page on Facebook called the IVF project, they can help with food for fertility and give you nutrition and exercise advice for TTC and IVF x

[Bestbuddies1975]

Parenthood is a dream. For some this dream has transformed into a nightmare. This is all because of the impossiblity of getting the rainbow. This inability is refered as the infertility. It is very imporant to check out for the physical fitness if an IP wants to seek the help of the assisted reproduction. One way to have physical fitness is to keep busy in the fitness sessions. Exercise can be equally great for the physical fitness of the infertile couples. If someone is going for the IVF it is recommended to stay safe. Exercise can be done prior to and during the process There are no risks associated with it. Still it is essential to consider some important aspects associated with it. There are minor changes required for the IVF. The IVF subjects need to be very selective while making the exercise plan. Those who were used to heavy and tiring exercise sessions before the IVF must bring some changes inti their routine when the process has actually started. Low impact light exercises are great for the IVF subjects. It is very important to take recommendations from the physicin when you have started with your IVF. A regular walk, stretching and short time yoga sessions are great during the IVF. In few cases the patient can have some problems. In this situation it is important to stop going for the exercises or do them as per the suggestions. I hope that this will be a helpful post for you.