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Staying Active While Trying to Conceive: Fertility Treatment Exercise Tips

Balancing fertility treatment with the rest of your life — work, commuting, workouts — can feel like a juggling act. Good news: for most people, staying active while trying to conceive is not only safe but beneficial. The key is adjusting your routine to match the stage of your treatment and what your body needs.

Why Exercise Supports Fertility

Moderate physical activity can:

• Reduce stress

• Improve sleep

• Support hormone regulation

• Enhance overall well-being

Safe Exercise During an IVF or IUI Cycle

During Ovarian Stimulation

As your ovaries grow, high-impact workouts can become uncomfortable or unsafe.

Best choices:

• Walking (your normal NYC pace absolutely counts)

• Light strength training

• Low-impact cardio

• Yoga or barre (avoid heated classes)

Avoid:

• Running long distances

• Heavy lifting

• High-impact HIIT

• Core twisting or deep abdominal work

After Egg Retrieval

Your body needs time to recover.

Stick to:

• Gentle walking

• Plenty of hydration

• Listening closely to your comfort level

Avoid vigorous workouts for about a week unless your care team advises otherwise.

After Embryo Transfer

This is the take it easy phase — but not immobilization. We encourage light activity, just no strenuous or high-impact workouts.

What About Strength Training?

You don’t have to abandon it; simply lower the weights, increase control, and avoid strain on the abdomen and pelvic region.

Staying active should feel supportive, not stressful. If you ever wonder whether a specific workout is safe, your NYULFC care team can help tailor exercise recommendations to your body and your treatment plan.

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