did your RE restrict your exercise program?

nikinikinine · August 2009

I've seen people post here quite a bit about their RE telling them to hold off on exercise. My questions is why are they telling you not to work out and when are you restricted?

Nikki1007 · August 2009

Mine said to continue working out with what I was doing, but I have cut back a lot just to make myself feel better. I limit it now to the elliptical and the stationary bike. Those are less jolting than running and weight lifting.

MrsAMR · August 2009

I think it depends on your workout routine before TTC.

For me, when stimming he told me to keep it lighter so my ovaries don't twist and to just avoid heavy weights, hard cardio and 'bouncing.'

schoolsoutbride · August 2009

Mine said only walking or swimming during stimming for IVF. I don't think I could do more than that anyway. Too sore. Risk of ovarian torsion as they get huge. I'm not even supposed to lift my son. They had previously just told me not to start anything super strenuous and new.

nikinikinine · August 2009

I'll have to talk to my RE about this next week when I'm in there. Currently I run 15-25 miles per week, spin 2x per week and do pilates 2x per week. I'm not really doing any heavy lifting per se, but I don't want to be making things worse for myself either.

Mainer-in-Texas · August 2009

My RE told me that I did not have to limit my exercise. I asked him about this twice because I've seen so many people on here post about it, and he told me that the research doesn't show it has a detrimental affect (although, this is for clomid + IUI cycles only - he might tell me something different if we have to move onto injectibles or IVF).

lovemymonkey · August 2009

With IUI, I wasn't told I had to change anything in my exercise program.

With IVF, I was instructed to avoid any strenuous exercise and heavy lifting during stimming and the 2ww. Light walking was ok. When you are doing IVF, your follicles are swollen and heavy, you are at a higher risk for ovarian torsion so you want to avoid movements that will bounce your ovaries around or risk twisting them. And during the 2ww, your ovaries may still be very sensitive and you also want to give your embryos the best chance of implanting so you want to take it easy.

MrsP71506 · August 2009

For all of my IUIs (clomid and injectables) my RE says to keep my heart rate between 120-130. So to keep it at those numbers I had to limit myself to the elipitical.

I normally work out 5 days a week doing kickboxing and weight training classes. The nurse said that I should not be doing any kickboxing because there is to much jumping around which can cause your ovaries to twist.

I know for IVF it is much more strict.

caityr · August 2009

My old clinic said no exercise during stims/2ww. New clinic I have not asked but I have put myself on restriction. I take walks but no workouts at the gym.

LCB34 · August 2009

My RE did not limit my exercise during my IUI cycles. He said not to do anything more than what I had been doing but I could continue.

However, I was limited during ym IVF cycle. My RE gave the reason that your ovaries are much bigger while stimming for IVF and that exercise can cause agitation. And then, I was limited during my IVF 2WW with the limitations being that I could not get my heart rate above 150.

I think it is your RE's opinion as to whether or not they think exercise should be limited.

ChiTown Bridget · August 2009

Mine did after transfer. So basically nothing during the 2ww. No cardio,swimming, anything bouncy. Walking is basically the only exercise I can do right now.

cocojack10 · August 2009

I was never restricted prior to this cycle. My nurse told me on Fri that strictly no excercise. I'm on a new plan though... mini-stims. She explained (and I'm not sure if I'm explaining it correctly) that with this regimine, the ovaries have tendancy to get heavier, and too much movement (running, going up stairs too fast, carrying too much weight) can cause the ovary to twist, and cause EXCRUTIATING pain (must go to ER).

igh0318 · August 2009

lovemymonkey:

With IUI, I wasn't told I had to change anything in my exercise program.

With IVF, I was instructed to avoid any strenuous exercise and heavy lifting during stimming and the 2ww. Light walking was ok. When you are doing IVF, your follicles are swollen and heavy, you are at a higher risk for ovarian torsion so you want to avoid movements that will bounce your ovaries around or risk twisting them. And during the 2ww, your ovaries may still be very sensitive and you also want to give your embryos the best chance of implanting so you want to take it easy.

Ditto this. I am only restircted during IVF cycles.

cocojack10 · August 2009

lovemymonkey:
With IUI, I wasn't told I had to change anything in my exercise program.
With IVF, I was instructed to avoid any strenuous exercise and heavy lifting during stimming and the 2ww. Light walking was ok. When you are doing IVF, your follicles are swollen and heavy, you are at a higher risk for ovarian torsion so you want to avoid movements that will bounce your ovaries around or risk twisting them. And during the 2ww, your ovaries may still be very sensitive and you also want to give your embryos the best chance of implanting so you want to take it easy.

Okay... this is what my nurse was talking about. LOL She explained to me in Spanish, so wasn't sure of the terminology in English.

ladychicago · August 2009

my RE/nurses have said nothing high impact or abdominal-focused (i.e. running or crunches) while stimming, due to the risk of ovarian torsion. and in my IUI 2wws, i was told to keep my heart rate under 120-130 (something about higher body temps corresponding with higher rates of early miscarriage). so i just keep it to light lifting and walking during the 2ww. for the IVF 2ww, they've already warned me that anything more than walking is not recommended.

Dragonfly1226 · August 2009

I didn't have any restrictions until I started on Gonal F. The rationale is that on injectables your ovaries are so stimulated that if you do too much they could get twisted or something. During the cycle, I am limited to walking, biking, or swimming for cardio, but I have to take it easy. I can lift light weights for arms but that's pretty much it. No jogging, aerobics, heavy lifting, etc. I used to be pretty active, and they told me to cut everything in half. Before I was on injectables, my RE told me to do anything that I felt up to.

prazenjc · August 2009

yes, as soon as i started, i was only allowed to walk to raise my heart rate. then, immediately after the ET, i wasn't even allowed to do that. i haven't been allowed to travel, either (which is a big deal b/c i travel for my work....so i am having to do a lot of juggling to still get everything accomplished this year).

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