Is it safe to exercise during my fertility treatments?

One common question that women ask about is the safety of exercise during fertility treatments.  The answer to this question depends on the type of fertility treatment you are undergoing, potential complications, as well as your general health and exercise history. 

General recommendations for most women include modification of your exercise program if you are undergoing a fertility treatment that will increase the number of eggs stimulated to grow in a single cycle (e.g. super ovulation and in vitro fertilization (IVF)). With the development of more than one egg, there is a risk of egg follicle rupture (i.e. bleeding from the egg sac) and ovarian torsion (i.e. twisting of the ovarian blood supply).  These complications will likely present with abdominal pain and could lead to loss of the ovary. 

To lessen the risk of a complication, women are recommended to participate only in low-impact activities during fertility treatments. Exercise modification should also continue for several weeks after IVF, as the ovaries eventually shrink back to their normal size, and sometimes for an additional month in super ovulation if the ovaries remain larger than normal. Talk to your doctor and/or fertility clinic to find out when resuming more intense exercise is safe for you.  If you have a complication of treatment (e.g. ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome) you should refrain from any exercise until you are informed it is safe again.

For most women, suitable exercises include: walking, gentle cycling, elliptical training and gentle weight training.  You should avoid exercises that will “bounce” around the ovaries (e.g. running, jumping). Caution should also be taken with certain positions in yoga (e.g. downward dog), where the ovaries may flip, increasing the chance of a torsion.

Walking: generally a safe form of exercise

A general rule of thumb during fertility treatments and pregnancy is to be cautious starting anything new that your body is not used to.  If you a lead a sedentary lifestyle you should start an exercise program very slowly (after consulting your doctor) to see how your body adapts and increase frequency and intensity as tolerated.  If you are generally quite active, you should modify this during treatment, but can then build back up to your normal routine once you are informed it is safe.

Although fitness remains an important factor while trying to conceive, there are some indications when women should avoid exercise during fertility treatments. You should always check with your doctor prior to undertaking or continuing your fitness regime, to determine if it is safe for you.