Any article on “tips for increasing fertility” is bound to mention the importance of lifestyle – typically diet and exercise. A number of studies have found a link between women with healthy weights and higher IVF success rates. Read our article on exercises for IVF patients, tips and guides.Β You can consult an IVF center in Mumbai for personalized guidance.
Exercise and IVF, on the other hand, are more difficult to manage. Excessive exercise, especially cardiovascular activity, appears to have an effect on reproductive hormone production, affecting your ability to conceive.
Another difficulty in determining “how much is too much” is that “exercise” for one woman is not the same as exercise for another. The regular triathlete, like the frequent low-impact walker, exercises, as does the lifelong equestrian rider or rock climber. The intensity levels and risks associated with these various exercises, on the other hand, vary greatly, and some are more conducive to a successful IVF cycle and a healthy pregnancy than others.
Relax and Other Exercises Tips for IVF Success
After reviewing research on exercise, pregnancy, and IVF success, we discovered that these six tips will help you achieve the healthy pregnancy and live birth you so desperately desire.
Take your time.
That is the most important and general piece of advice we can give to women considering IVF. We understand that for women who are used to vigorous exercise, relaxing is a major challenge. However, the more studies you look at, the more you’ll notice a link between increased physical activity and lower rates of conception. If you are a regular runner, biker, marathon runner, or participate in workout regimens designed for moderate/advanced athletes, your doctor will most likely advise you to rest while pursuing fertility treatments.
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Four hours maximum.
What exactly does “take it easy” mean? That’s a good question. A study published in Obstetrics and Gynecology examined the IVF outcomes of over 2200 women over a nine-year period. “Women who reported exercising 4 hours or more per week for 1-9 years were 40% less likely to have a live birth, nearly three times more likely to experience cycle cancellation, and twice as likely to experience implantation failure or pregnancy loss than women who did not report exercise,” they concluded.
These findings may inspire you to simplify your routine in the months leading up to, during, and after your IVF cycle in order to give you and your baby the best chance of success. Limit your cardio workouts to no more than 4 hours per week, and supplement with lower-intensity options that still increase strength and flexibility, such as yoga, water exercise, or tai chi.
Anything high-impact should be avoided.
If your preferred exercise is high-impact, it’s time to put it on hold for a while. Any serious falls, injuries, or impact to the abdominal wall can jeopardise your reproductive health, especially if you have a newly implanted baby or are prone to miscarriages. You can join an online fitness class for personalized guidance.
Prepare for a week of “no exercise” during the egg retrieval week.
This isn’t because you shouldn’t ivf and exercise (though you should), but rather because you won’t feel like it. The fertility medications you’ll be taking, combined with some of their potential physical side effects like bloating, fatigue, and mild discomfort, will make you want to lie down and take a nap rather than go outside and run a few miles. This is fine, and we always advise you to listen to your body and avoid pushing yourself. You are about to embark on a very intricate and delicate process, and you don’t want to jeopardise it in any way.
Begin looking for other ways to relieve stress.
Regular exercise is as much about stress relief and an endorphin rush for many women as it is about weight loss or overall health. If this describes you, begin learning new ways to reduce or eliminate stress. What are some things you’ve always wanted to try but never have? Yoga, meditation, more outdoor time, a hobby or craft class. And all those books you’ve been meaning to read but haven’t gotten around to? Now is the time to develop a relationship with other modes of stress relief and “escape”. So you won’t be as shell-shocked when you have to cut back on your exercise routine.
Consider the big picture.
“Take the long view,” perhaps one of the best pieces of advice for any situation in life. Your months, or even years, of low-impact exercise may seem interminable to you, but they aren’t. You are making a huge mental, physical, spiritual, and financial commitment to have a baby. The months you spend now cutting back on excessive exercise will be well worth it in the end. When you have your beautiful baby in your arms, nothing beats putting him or her in your jogging stroller and getting back in shape. For the time being, simply marvel at the miraculous process of transforming two single cells into a healthy, happy, miniature human being!
