Exercise before frozen embryo transfer ivf

[Willowtree35]

Hi,

So I'm really looking for some advice and hope someone can help, Iv just come to the end of a fresh embryo transfer cycle that was sadly unsuccessful, Iv booked in for a frozen transfer which isn't until June, I'm a runner and run on a daily basis and throughout my 2ww I didn't do any exercise, but I did a lot before the transfer, does anyone no if it's ok to do this and if it could affect my chances? Basically I really want to start running again and working out as it helps my mental health but I'm scared, my next cycle isn't for another 2-3 months yet.

Thanks

Hi @Willowtree35 I’m sorry to hear about your recent cycle. I would say that you’d be fine to start running again, if you’re worried about running while having the FET then you can check with your clinic. My understand is that light exercise is encouraged, obviously some people go to extremes with exercise and I wouldn’t recommend endurance events, since women can have their periods stop with these intense sports.

I also stopped all exercise for my fresh and frozen cycle, not that I could do any exercise with how I felt in my fresh cycle, I couldn’t even bend to the ground as my ovaries got so big. But the FET for most people is a lot easier on the body and the mental health benefits of light exercise are likely to be beneficial. Moving forward I’m going to stick to my normal activities during cycles as much as I can.

Hi, I'm sorry to hear about your previous cycle.

I've found running, cycling, etc really helpful for my mental health as well as the physical health benefits, but I've been advised to avoid running or "high impact" activities during an actual treatment cycle. So, it might be best to check with your clinic about if/when they'd want you to take any break from running due to treatment? Your level of fitness may also influence their advice, so if you can speak with someone who knows you well that might be most helpful for you.

Fingers crossed for a successful cycle!

Hey! I’m a runner too currently undergoing treatment for FET. I ran a half marathon on Sunday but now tapering down to much shorter distances 5ks max and just walking after transfer. From my understanding from my clinic - light jogging is fine but I was told no more long distances. Some studies have shown that endurance running can lower progesterone levels. I used to get quite a bit of spotting when I ran but when I stopped last year due to ivf I noticed the spotting reduced Xx

This is all really good advice, thankyou.... @JandL2020 maybe it will be ok for me to go running for the next month or so but then a few weeks before cycle cut it down to short light jogs and then during my actual cycle in June cut down to walks only? I'll check with my clinic but tbh they usually just say take it easy, but that doesn't really help lol. Thanks

@Willowtree35

Others have basically covered it, but yes drop it down to light jogging a month before your transfer to allow time for your body / hormones to become 'more normal.'

I love running too but it basically stresses the body, in a good way for our health, but not so much for fertility.

Relaxing long walks along the beach / river after transfer is a nice option.

Fingers crossed for you.

I continued running throughout our fresh cycle except for post transfer when I had a 10 day break until OTD as advised by the clinic. Just did lots of walking instead on those days and started running again the day of OTD. I kept up my usual pattern, 4-5 times a week, 20-30 miles and ran 10k the morning of the transfer and did a marathon a week before I started our cycle (🙈)! Didn't seem to do any harm - 22 weeks now and counting (and still running)!

I think continuing normal routines as much as possible is helpful to manage your stress levels. If running helps you, I would just carry on. I spoke at length with our consultant about it and there is no good quality evidence it has a negative impact on cycles. The advice re post transfer was just very precautionary, he said there is no real evidence for it negatively affecting then either but I decided to take the better safe than sorry approach. I agree with pp re not exercising to excess - I wouldn't be running ultra marathons in the run up on a regular basis but if you are an experienced runner ie have done it for a long time, you should be able to continue fairly normally. Just make sure you are eating and hydrating well to keep your energy up! Essentially, just go with what you feel comfortable with. Good luck 🤞

@Willowtree35 I'm sorry to hear of your failed fresh cycle. A good idea to keep exercising as you will feel better. I had a failed fresh nearly 2 years ago and then a frozen a few months later. With the frozen I exercised vigorously right until the night before transfer and even attended a fitness festival (!) 2 days before. After the transfer I was told to just do walking by the clinic so I did that. The frozen was a success and my boy is 9 months now. I wish you all the luck for your next cycle. Take these next few months as "you" time and do as much running as you please but stop in the 2ww after transfer and then see what the clinic say. Xx