Should you exercise during IVF?

If you don’t like to miss your workout even for a day, it natural to wonder if it is ok to exercise during IVF?  Sometimes, the doctors ask you to forgo any physical activity for the duration of ovarian stimulation in your IVF.

The treatment can feel both physically demanding and emotionally overwhelming, and giving up on all exercise for two weeks when you’re stressed and undergoing hormonal administration is a double whammy for many people.

However, it doesn’t have to be.

Latest research presented at the 2024 American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Congress suggests that moderate exercise during IVF may help reduce your stress without harming treatment outcomes.

The study findings

In a randomized controlled trial of over 200 women, researchers investigated if IVF outcomes or patient stress levels were affected by exercising during the treatment.

It was found that participants who exercised regularly reported less stress, and their egg quality and IVF outcomes were comparable to those who avoided exercise.

Notably, the researchers did not find any cases of ovarian torsion—a twisting of the ovary that some doctors fear exercise during IVF might cause.

Does exercising during IVF help?

“Ovarian stimulation is incredibly time-consuming, incredibly stressful, incredibly emotional, and incredibly expensive,” says Dr. Maren Shapiro, a reproductive endocrinologist and lead researcher from the University of California, San Francisco.

According to Dr. Shapiro, the physical and emotional demands of IVF often affect the patients’ mental health and exercise was evaluated as a potential support mechanism.

In the trial, women who exercised saw their stress levels drop, while those who didn’t exercise were found to have increased stress through IVF.

The researchers used the Perceived Stress Scale to measure the participants’ stress levels. Exercising helped drop the scores by one point but they were up two points in non-exercisers.

How much exercise is safe during IVF?

While this research is encouraging, you must remember that not all forms of exercise are equal and for working out during IVF, you need to discuss your exercise routine with your doctor.

The study participants were asked to engage in 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week.

“We discouraged sudden shifts to high-intensity workouts like CrossFit but encouraged activities like brisk walking or treadmill sessions,” Dr. Shapiro explains. You want to get movement but without potentially excessive strain on the ovaries.

Consider your pre-IVF activity level

Notably, women who had an active lifestyle before starting IVF, were found to have the greatest stress reduction from continuing exercise.

“In people who exercise regularly, telling them to stop really causes negative effects on their mental health,” Dr. Shapiro says.

However, for women who did not exercise regularly, stress levels tended to rise regardless of their activity level during the study.

Physician advice on exercise during IVF

Most doctors would support low-impact exercise like walking or yoga during IVF, but high-intensity workouts are discouraged. “

Even though ovarian torsion is rare, Dr. Amanda Adeleye, MD, says there have been cases related to sudden movements, like turning in bed or during intercourse.

Dr. Adeleye recommends that her patients continue exercising for the first few days of stimulation but advises caution afterward.

“Do what makes sense to you,” she says. “If you feel your ovaries moving, that’s probably a sign to stop.”

Practical tips for exercising safely during IVF

1. Stick to low-impact movements: Stick to walking, gentle treadmill use, or light yoga.
2. Avoid high-intensity workouts: Avoid activities that involve jumping, twisting, or high-impact motions.
3. Listen to your body: If you feel movement or unusual sensations around your ovaries, stop and rest.
4. Check with your doctor: Always follow your doctor’s guidance for exercise tailored to your IVF cycle and medical history.

If you’re not very active, starting a new exercise regimen just as your start IVF will not help but if you already exercise, balancing physical activity with rest, under your doctor’s guidance, may offer some relief during the IVF process.

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Reviewd by: Dr. Meenakshi, PhD