Exercise After IVF

In vitro fertilization, where eggs are harvested and then fertilized outside the womb, resulting in an embryo planted in the uterus, is a potentially risky procedure. While IVF may allow some couples to bypass problems they have in becoming pregnant, the success rate is very low, anywhere from 6 to 35 percent, depending on your age. While a variety of factors will affect your success rate after an IVF attempt, you can do your part by resting after the procedure and limiting your exercise to avoid certain problems that could derail your IVF success.

Potential Problems

It's likely you will feel fine in the days following your in vitro fertilization and in the two-week waiting period to find out if you are pregnant, so it may be confusing when your doctor advises you to avoid high-impact exercise. He has good reason. The IVF procedure can cause irritation, and the medications that you'll need to take as part of the procedure can result in enlarged ovaries. While not necessarily a problem on their own, when you engage in high-impact exercise with enlarged ovaries, you put yourself at risk for ovarian torsion, where the ovaries begin to twist, which is painful and dangerous. Heed all of your doctor's suggestions regarding exercise and activity after the procedure.

Regular Activity

The actual IVF procedure can leave you feeling sore with slight abdominal pressure. In the 24 hours following your procedure, your doctor will likely advise that you go home and rest your body. After the initial 24 hours, it's fine to resume most of your regular daily activities, such as walking, stair climbing or cooking. Still, you should avoid lifting weights over 12 lbs., both formally through exercise and informally through daily living activities.

Exercise to Try

Low-impact exercise is fine after the first 24 hours of rest after the in vitro fertilization procedure. Some types of exercise that are generally advisable include walking, water aerobics and riding a bike at a mild to moderate intensity. Look specifically for types of exercise that won't cause you to overheat or that require a rapid vertical motion, which can cause ovarian cysts to form and complicate your IVF results. Low-impact exercises are also ideal when you receive successful IVF results for a healthy pregnancy.

Exercise to Avoid

Certain types of exercise are not safe after your IVF procedure. They mostly include any high-impact type of exercise, such as step aerobics, jogging or running on a treadmill. These are the very types of exercise that can cause ovarian complications that could jeopardize the success of your IVF. Since the waiting period is typically two weeks after the procedure, avoid high-impact exercise until you find out whether or not your IVF was successful.