IVF And Exercise

Let’s get one thing straight – exercise if good for you! Study after study shows the benefits of regular exercise as a means to prevent cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, breast and colon cancer and more. Research shows lower fertility rates in women with normal weight with a sedentary lifestyle.

But when we have been experiencing negative pregnancy tests month after month and are spending thousands on IVF, it is completely understandable to want to read every study and follow every quirky method heard of if it is going to increase the odds of success. So here is a summary of research specific to VF and exercise.

Research encompassing 3683 infertile couples undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment showed female physical activity was associated with a significant increase in clinical pregnancy at 1.96 times higher than physically inactive women.

Statistics show that infertile women tend to have lower abdominal temperatures compared to fertile women, most likely due to impaired blood flow to the uterus. In contrast, regular movement and activities such as walking, standing and exercising enhances blood flow. Greater blood flow equals better oxygen circulation throughout the body which promotes healthy cell and tissue growth. That’s why implantation depends on your ability to stay active.

Yes, you may have seen a study showing women who reported exercising 4 hours or more per week were 40% less likely to have a live birth. However, this is thought to be due to the very small percentage of athletes who participate in sport at this level and extreme exercise does interfere with hormones GnRH, LH, FSH, and estradiol in ways that interfere with ovulation.  Fat is an important source of estrogen and severe drops in fat tissue with elite athletes will result in estrogen level drops as well. As a result, reproductive dysfunction is reported to have a higher prevalence in athletes than non-athletes.

So in a nutshell, the effect of physical activity on fertility can be positive up to a certain level and have a negative effect above that threshold level of activity. If you are among the small percentage of females who perform sport at an elite level to the extent that hormones are affected, you may need to dial it back. But for the vast majority of us, let’s get active as we embark on our journey to motherhood.

My Miracles is currently developing fertility specific exercise videos for the lead up to and during your IVF cycle.