Training During IVF: What the Research Says About Exercise and Egg Retrieval

By Raven Marsh · Prenatal · October 23, 2026

If you are going through IVF or egg freezing, someone has probably told you to "take it easy." Often that is the entire instruction. As a Dallas strength coach who works with women through fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum, these are the questions I hear most: Can I still lift? What about the week of retrieval? Will training hurt my results?

Here is what the research says, and where it runs out.

The short answer

Being physically active before treatment is linked to better outcomes, and I did not find evidence that moderate training during treatment harms results. There is one real, specific safety concern once your ovaries are enlarged from stimulation, and your fertility clinic's instructions always come first.

Why so many women stop moving

In a survey of women undergoing assisted reproductive treatment, participants were significantly less active during treatment, and 80.1% said they believed their outcome would suffer if they did not limit their activity (Küçük et al., Int J Gynaecol Obstet). The authors described this as a misconception. That study measured what women believe, not whether exercise causes harm.

Patient beliefs vary a lot. In a survey of 138 couples, many people thought exercise was helpful during a cycle, and some thought rigorous exercise or complete bed rest after transfer was beneficial, even after being counseled otherwise (Hawkins et al., J Assist Reprod Genet). The takeaway is that women are making decisions from fear and mixed messages more than from clear evidence.

What the research shows about activity and IVF outcomes

• Activity before a cycle: A meta-analysis of 8 studies and 3,683 couples found that women who were physically active before IVF or ICSI had higher clinical pregnancy and live birth rates than inactive women, with no difference in miscarriage (Rao et al., Reprod Biol Endocrinol). These were observational studies with a lot of variation between them, so this is an association, not proof that exercise causes better results.
• Women with obesity: In an observational study of 216 women, regular physical activity before a first cycle was linked to higher pregnancy and live birth rates, independent of weight loss (Palomba et al., Reprod Biomed Online).
• A small trial: In a pilot randomized trial of 41 women with obesity, a 12-week diet and exercise program before IVF was followed by a higher cumulative live birth rate. The two groups had a similar number of eggs retrieved (Espinós et al., Reprod Biomed Online). Diet and exercise were combined and the trial was small, so we cannot say exercise alone did this.

None of this tells us how hard or in what way to train during stimulation. That is the gap.

The real safety issue: enlarged ovaries

During stimulation, your ovaries grow as follicles develop. Two complications are the reason clinics pay attention to activity:

• Ovarian torsion, where an enlarged ovary twists on its blood supply. One case report describes exercise-induced torsion after a stimulated cycle in a woman with a persistent ovarian cyst, and the authors advise avoiding strenuous activity until the ovary is confirmed back to normal size (Littman et al., Hum Reprod). A case series of pregnant women with adnexal torsion after assisted reproduction notes that its incidence has risen with wider use of these treatments, and that early diagnosis leads to better results (Sun et al., Am J Emerg Med).
• Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). In Danish national data, about 1.2% of stimulated IVF/ICSI cycles led to a hospital admission for severe OHSS (Tomás et al., Dan Med J). That is uncommon, but it is why your clinic monitors you closely.

Case reports and small series cannot tell us how often exercise triggers torsion. They tell us the risk is real enough to respect, which is different from a reason to stop all movement.

How I coach through treatment

I start by asking for your clinic's restrictions, because they know your response to the medication. From there, I typically:

• Lower the intensity instead of stopping, so you keep moving without pushing hard.
• Remove twisting movements and rotation through the trunk.
• Adjust to how you feel that day. If you are bloated, tender, or tired, the session changes. Your body's feedback guides the plan, not a fixed script.

The approach changes by phase, and your clinic's guidance always overrides mine.

What training can look like by phase

This framework reflects common clinical practice and the case-level evidence above, not trial data. Your reproductive endocrinologist's guidance overrides it.

• Before stimulation: This is your window to build strength consistently. It is also the phase with the strongest evidence behind it.
• During stimulation: Many clinics advise cutting back on high-impact work (jumping, running), twisting, and intense core training as follicles grow. Walking and strength training at a moderate effort, with reps left in reserve and no breath-holding, is a common approach. Lower the load and intensity rather than stopping completely, unless your clinic says otherwise.
• Retrieval week: Follow your clinic's instructions for the day of and the days after the procedure. Plan this as rest.
• After retrieval: Your ovaries are still enlarged for a while. Ask when you are cleared to return, then rebuild gradually.
• After transfer: Instructions vary between clinics. Ask what yours recommends and what it is based on.

Questions to ask your fertility clinic

• What activity is fine during stimulation, and what should I avoid?
• At what point in the cycle should I stop lifting or running?
• When can I return to training after retrieval?
• Does anything change if I respond strongly to the medication?
• What are the instructions after embryo transfer, and why?

When to get medical help right away

Call your clinic or seek urgent care for sudden severe pain on one side of your lower abdomen, pain with nausea or vomiting, rapid bloating or weight gain, shortness of breath, or very little urine. These can signal torsion or OHSS and should not be waited out.

Why this matters beyond the physical

For many women, training is how they manage stress and feel like themselves. Being told to stop with no plan and no timeline can feel like losing control at a hard time. A clear plan for each phase, built with your medical team, helps you keep what you can and rest where it matters.

Frequently asked questions

Can I lift weights during IVF? Many women continue moderate strength training in the stimulation phase, with lower intensity and less impact and twisting as the ovaries enlarge. Your clinic should confirm what is right for you.

Will exercise reduce my chances of success? Moderate activity before treatment is associated with better outcomes. I did not find trials showing that moderate training during treatment lowers success, but the research on training during stimulation is limited.

Can I exercise the day of egg retrieval? Plan to rest on the day of retrieval and follow your clinic's instructions for the days after.

When can I go back to training after retrieval? Ask your clinic. Return gradually once they clear you.

Train with a plan

If you are in Dallas and want strength training that respects where you are in treatment, you can apply to train with me or book a free consultation at movewithrae.com. I start with your clinic's restrictions and adjust each session to how you feel.

This article is educational and is not medical advice. Always follow the instructions of your fertility clinic and healthcare providers.