Exercise during IVF?

[TTCsince2024]

I read a lot about how we shouldn't exercise during the IVF treatment. But the nurse said running is fine as long as I don't 'jump around'. This was (amazing) news to me as I love running. However a bunch of articles online specifically tell us not to run while on medication so I'm wondering what the deal really is? Am I ok to run or not? Any advice or experience would be very much appreciated!! I just started the treatment yesterday.

This isn't a scientific answer, but I don't think I was advised anything in particular, so I just carried on as normal (I was a regular runner) BUT the medication did make me feel a bit blobby and lethargic so I was probably too lazy to do much anyway.

I was told not to run when I was getting my IVF treatment. Mind you I had to ask they didn't give the information unprompted.

I suspect there's basically no information on it (you'd have to do quite a specific large-scale study of outcomes to get any evidence either way) so the default answer is 'don't do it'.

Ive done a lot of IVF, both successful and unsuccessful. My clinic only advised not to run between transfer and official test day. Even then they said there wasn’t really evidence to support this, it was more a psychological precaution. I ran as usual the rest of time through all my rounds and started running again each time on official test day, including my successful round. Hope that helps.

Hello!
im currently 8.5 weeks pregnant with an ivf pregnancy and prior to ivf was a very regular exerciser- CrossFit and running.
I was told I could keep doing my normal exercise through stims but to stop if I was at all uncomfortable. In the two week wait, it was the same- don’t go super high intensity, don’t lift excessively but otherwise do what I usually would
You say you’ve just started treatment and I’m not sure whether you are on down reg or have started stims- on down reg I cannot see any reason why you wouldn’t do whatever is normal to you. I’m still running now 🏃‍♀️ because my body is used to it

also, from a mental health perspective- ivf is tough and the effects on your body can be hard too (I gained a significant amount of weight) exercise kept me sane but if you don’t feel up to it or are particularly worried, don’t do it

I was also told not to run / exercise during IVF and pregnancy by my consultant. I was told walking was it. Which I hated and didnt feel was backed up by the evidence i had seen (which all supports continuing exercisethat you did before pregnancy, butnot pushing yourself), but after some bleeding, it never seemed worth the risk.

Wow, this is all super super helpful, thanks everyone!! Will follow majority advice here and continue to exercise as usual unless uncomfortable and at least until transfer.