Physical Activity During IVF: What Science Actually Shows

Women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) are often advised to reduce or even completely stop physical activity during ovarian stimulation. This recommendation is usually related to concerns about possible complications.

During IVF treatment, medications are used to stimulate the ovaries to produce a larger number of eggs. This process causes the ovaries to increase in size, theoretically making them more susceptible to ovarian torsion. However, recommendations to restrict physical activity for this reason are still based on limited or low-quality scientific evidence.

Today, it is well established that several lifestyle-related factors have an important influence on fertility. These include dietary patterns, the quantity and quality of physical activity, emotional health management, stress reduction, and the overall living conditions of the couple.

Taking care of physical and emotional health before and during the reproductive process may contribute to a healthier pregnancy. In addition, developing strategies to manage anxiety, stress, and emotional challenges—which are very common during fertility treatments—is considered an important factor for both the woman’s well-being and treatment success.

Recent studies indicate that women who already maintained an active lifestyle before pregnancy tend to continue exercising during ovarian stimulation. These women demonstrated lower stress levels after egg retrieval, without a clinically significant increase in ovarian torsion rates. These findings suggest that generalized physical activity restrictions during this phase should be reconsidered.

Furthermore, a lower incidence of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia has been observed in pregnant women undergoing IVF who maintained an active lifestyle. The most commonly reported activities included walking, light aerobic exercise, strength training, and relaxation-based practices.

Therefore, implementing an appropriate physical activity program for women undergoing IVF may represent a safe and effective strategy, helping reduce the risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes while promoting better health throughout the reproductive process.

Although every IVF treatment should be evaluated individually, current evidence suggests that remaining physically active—with proper guidance—may provide important physical and emotional health benefits.

For this reason, whenever possible, exercise should be discussed with the healthcare team so that women can go through this process with greater safety, balance, and quality of life.

Scientific References

Shapiro, M., Kaing, A., Christ, J. P., & Gibson Huddleston, H. (2024). PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DURING FERTILITY CARE (PACE): A randomized controlled trial of exercise during ovarian stimulation. Volume 122, Issue 4, Supplement, e119–e120, October 2024.

Charkamyani, F., Hosseinkhani, A., Neisani Samani, L., & Khedmat, L. (2020). Reducing the adverse maternal and fetal outcomes in IVF women by exercise interventions during pregnancy. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, February 2020.

Written by Physiotherapist Marília Monteiro – CREFITO 129693-F

Translated by Aline Marques de Castro – CREFITO 175170-F with AI-assisted support from ChatGPT (OpenAI).