Advice on exercise during IVF

[luthien]

I've been reading up on exercise and IVF, the following suggestions have come up: At all times - avoid high intensity exercise (including HIIT and anything which makes you sweat) as this can raise body temperature.

During stims; avoid any exercise around the core / abs and hip areas as this can cause ovarian torsion due to enlarged ovaries

After embryo implantation (up to 1 month) any intense arm and leg focussed exercises as this can disrupt implantation.

All mild exercise such as walking, light jogging and cycling are fine

Has anyone else heard of these things?

Just wondering as we're about to start our stims and my exercises are PT and pole fitness. PT focusses on general strength, including squats (+ weights) and deadlifts plus other weights, also a bit on core strength (sit ups etc). Pole fitness is a lot of arm and core work, with holds around the stomach and thighs (also include some HIIT on warming up). Would it be an idea to stop these during IVF?

[JA-fnuk Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi luthienThink you should check with your clinic to see what they advise You should maybe avoid high

impact workouts and opt for gentler exercise

Thinking of you

Janet

[Hidden]

Hey, I am not a medical professional but I would advise you stop all of those things once you start stimming. I like you do a lot of exercise including HIIT, weights, core work plus cycling, swimming, running, spin and horse riding. Whenever I have done IVF I have continued horse riding (much to my partners irritation haha) but removed everything else except walking and gentle cycling (no spin just ambling round the roads). I also had to stop pilates and yoga as was advised to stop those until a time I became pregnant and then to do a specialist pregnancy yoga class if that happened. The weights maybe mainly upper body etc but you are still using your core to do all if it.

I struggled a bit mentally as exercise really helps my mental health, particularly as an outlet to TTC stress, however I figured the short period of sacrifice would be well worth it if it worked and I became pregnant. Good luck xx

[JoyfulStar]

From my own research and speaking to the nurses during my IVF rounds, I was not told to stop exercising but rather to listen to my body. They also advised not to start any new exercise regime that my body was not used to.

My exercises of choice before IVF was skipping and step aerobics. I also sometimes did weights. My step aerobics were intense and I could get a good sweat in.

I personally continued the step aerobics during stims until I could tell my ovaries were getting quite big and it became uncomfortable. I think during one round, I exercised for a week and then stopped. As my response got better with each subsequent round, I found myself stopping sooner.

I also waited at least a week after egg collection before resuming exercise. For 2 cycles I did not do an embryo transfer as my treatment plan was to bank embryos. I got my BFP after a fresh transfer during my 3rd cycle so exercising did not impact on my outcome. I think some women on here have continued exercising e.g jogging during IVF.

My advice therefore is speak to your consultant and nurses and listen to your body.

All the best 🙏🏾

[Pnw2020]

Hi

Best to check with your clinic as mentioned above. I remember being told no high intense or impact exercise during stims or after and no heavy lifting.

I did light weights / steps until day 5 or 6 at which point my ovaries became uncomfortable. I continued walking but got slower going up the hills. I couldn't personally have run at this point even if I wanted to. Similarly, walks were slow and short post egg collection as I focussed on recovery for egg collection and up until test day. I found gentle exercise helped manage the side effects from all the progesterone.

I did gentle pilates ( mainly mobility exercises ) and I followed some of these videos on youtube for yoga (Live Fertile):

youtube.com/channel/UCAFTB1...

Good luck x

[Redsequin]

I've found either going on walks on doing those super low stress online walking videos by Leslie Sansone perfect for going through IVF. I love yoga ordinarily but understand that twisting etc. could cause problems. Or I believe the fertility network does have a v gentle free yoga class once a week.

[Running79]

I was still training during stims, mainly running for me. But I stopped when I had a transfer done

[Freestar1]

I stopped all high impact exercise during stims as loved trampolining for exercise. I stuck to gentle walks and very gentle low impact yoga and meditation just for relaxation. Currently 37 weeks pregnant and about to give birth in three days.

[Jana483]

I am no professional but when I started stims I stopped exercising

[Dichelsea]

Hi there, I love exercising but during my new IVF stim + blast transfer in November I abstained from any kind of exercise (apart from walking around 6k steps a day). My clinic (ARGC) was adamant that I shouldn’t exercise, avoid hot baths and just take it easy. I followed their advice and I got and am currently pregnant. Previously with another clinic which wasn’t so strict, I continued my exercise routine and failed, so I trust that you shouldn’t raise your body temperature.

Best of Luck!

[Beatrix_K]

I’m speaking just from personal experience here but I was told to listen to my body and not stop exercise. I stopped altogether for one round when I started stims. That failed. The next round i through caution to the wind and exercised during. I stopped the week of egg collection and carried on after that that - I got pregnant and was in the gym lifting weights (reduced amount and adjusted exercises) until 40wks. Ask your docs, listen to your body and you’ll make the right decision. 😊