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Incorporating regular exercise into your lifestyle is essential for overall health benefits. Numerous studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing stress, maintaining a healthy weight, and alleviating anxiety. It's common advice in the realm of infertility to prioritise exercise and weight management for optimising IVF outcomes.

If you're someone who enjoys staying active, you might be curious about the role of exercise during IVF treatment and what types of activities are appropriate. Here, we provide recommendations on the frequency, intensity, and types of exercises that are advisable during IVF cycles.

Regardless of whether you prefer rigorous workouts or a more leisurely approach, it's advisable to adopt a gentler exercise routine during your IVF cycles. We suggest aiming for around 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly. Although this might pose a challenge for enthusiasts of high-intensity workouts, research suggests a link between excessive physical activity and reduced chances of conception. Intense exercise regimes can strain the reproductive system and possibly disrupt typical hormone levels.

What Exercises Are Suitable During an IVF Cycle

• Walking

Walking for 30 minutes daily offers a myriad of benefits. It's a gentle, low-impact activity that elevates your heart rate and enhances blood circulation throughout your body and brain. This promotes the release of endorphins and nutrients while increasing oxygen intake without subjecting your body to undue stress.

• Swimming

Swimming is highly advantageous during IVF cycles. Like walking, it effectively raises your heart rate to a beneficial level without imposing excessive strain. If you're concerned about losing endurance, muscle strength, or cardiovascular fitness with lower-impact exercises during IVF, swimming can help maintain your current level of fitness.

• Yoga

Yoga not only serves as a superb physical exercise but also aids in reducing anxiety and stress. Through the integration of meditation and controlled breathing, it fosters a sense of tranquillity and mental clarity. As another low-impact exercise option, yoga enhances flexibility, muscle strength, and tone while facilitating weight management.

Risks Associated with Exercise and IVF Cycles

If you opt to sustain a vigorous exercise regimen during your IVF cycles or uphold an already rigorous routine, there are heightened risks to consider. One such risk, albeit uncommon, is ovarian torsion, characterised by the twisting of the ovaries. Moreover, engaging in high-impact exercises poses the risk of elevating your core body temperature, potentially increasing the likelihood of miscarriage.

Keep in mind that your IVF journey is more akin to a marathon than a sprint. Minimising stress on your body during this period can enhance your chances of conception. Though adjusting your exercise routine might pose challenges initially, the precautions you implement now are likely to yield benefits in the long term. Should you have any inquiries regarding your activity level during your IVF cycle, don't hesitate to contact us!