Exercise guide
Keeping active is good preparation for pregnancy, and most people trying for a baby have no reason to stop. In studies, people who were more active had fewer fertility problems. But exercise isn't a fertility treatment, and very large amounts of hard training may work against you, especially if your periods become irregular or you eat too little for what you do.
This guide covers how much exercise helps, when to ease off, weight and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), exercise during IVF (in vitro fertilisation), what the evidence says about miscarriage, what matters for men, and when to see a GP (general practitioner). It ends with moves you can watch in 3D, workouts to follow and the warning signs that need help.
Across 10 studies of more than 700,000 people, those who were more active had fewer fertility problems than the least active. The usual NHS guideline applies: 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, such as brisk walking, plus muscle strengthening on 2 days. Age, time and treatable causes matter far more than exercise does.
In women of a healthy weight, 5 or more hours a week of vigorous exercise has been linked with taking longer to get pregnant, and more than an hour a day of very hard exercise with not ovulating. These findings come from observational studies, another study found the opposite, and no trial has tested cutting back. Periods that become irregular or stop are the clearest sign to ease off and eat more.
NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) says a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or more is likely to mean taking longer to conceive, and that a group programme of exercise and dietary advice leads to more pregnancies than weight-loss advice alone. With PCOS, which the NHS now calls polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), exercise can help restart ovulation.
Bed rest after embryo transfer doesn't help: NICE says resting for more than 20 minutes doesn't improve the outcome. While the injections have enlarged your ovaries, our suggestion is gentle activity, with no jumping, running or fast twisting, based on NHS hospital leaflets written for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Your clinic's advice comes first.
Studies of exercise in pregnancy found no link with miscarriage, though the evidence is of very low certainty and little is known about very large amounts of exercise. Exercise isn't on the NHS list of things that raise the chance of miscarriage, and the NHS says miscarriage is often caused by a problem with the way the pregnancy develops.
The NHS says to see a GP if you haven't conceived after a year of trying, or sooner if you're a woman aged 36 or over or already know of a possible fertility problem. NICE offers both partners checks after a year, and a referral to a specialist straight away from age 36.
Over 80% of couples conceive within a year if the woman is under 40 and they have regular sex without contraception, and about half of the rest do in the second year. NICE's figures for getting pregnant within a year run from 92% at age 19 to 26 to 82% at 35 to 39. Sex every 2 to 3 days gives the best chance, so there's no need to time it to the day. Around 1 in 7 couples have difficulty.
Female fertility declines with age, and male fertility does too, to a lesser extent. The NHS says the decline speeds up in the mid-30s, which is why both the NHS and NICE act sooner from 36.
The common causes are not ovulating regularly, poor semen quality, blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, and endometriosis; in a quarter of cases no cause is found. An overactive or an underactive thyroid can stop ovulation, and fibroids can make it harder to get pregnant. Problems can lie with either partner.
The NHS says being overweight (a BMI of 30 or over) reduces fertility, and being very underweight can affect ovulation. In 2,062 women planning a pregnancy, the chance of conceiving each month fell steadily above a BMI of 35. NICE uses a BMI under 18.5 with irregular or absent periods as the point where gaining weight is likely to help.
Ovulation depends on hormone signals from the brain. Very heavy training, eating too little, rapid weight loss and stress can turn those signals down. Sports doctors call the wider effect of eating too little for your training REDs (relative energy deficiency in sport), in women and in men, and periods that stop for this reason are called functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea. It affects bone as well as fertility. NICE's guideline committee says increasing weight or reducing excessive exercise, or both, may improve fertility in this situation.
Anyone trying to get pregnant, their partners, and single people or same-sex couples using donor sperm or fertility treatment. Where a study looked only at women or only at men, this guide says so.
In a review of 10 observational studies (708,965 people), the most active had about 40% lower risk of infertility than the least active, and moderate activity was protective too. A 2023 review of 34 studies was less consistent for women, where many studies found mixed results or no link, and mostly positive for men. These are links, not proof: active people differ in many ways.
In 3,628 Danish women, 5 or more hours a week of vigorous exercise went with about a third lower chance of conceiving each month, except in women with a higher weight. In 3,887 Norwegian women, only the small group active on most days or exercising to exhaustion had more fertility problems, and over the following years the women who exercised hardest were the least likely to stay childless. A review of cohort studies linked the highest intensity with slightly lower fertility.
But in 1,214 US women who'd had 1 or 2 earlier losses, more than 4 hours a week of vigorous activity went with getting pregnant faster, and in North American women with a higher weight, vigorous activity did too. All of these studies are observational, and no trial has tested cutting back.
A review found that more than 60 minutes a day of heavy exercise was linked with not ovulating, while 30 to 60 minutes of vigorous exercise a day was linked with a lower risk. Only 1 of 3 short trials of hard training in women who ovulated normally disrupted ovulation, and no trial has studied women of a healthy weight who don't ovulate.
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NICE says a group programme of exercise and dietary advice leads to more pregnancies than weight-loss advice alone. In 12 trials (1,921 women with obesity), weight-loss programmes before IVF increased pregnancies, mostly natural ones, without more pregnancy losses, but whether they increased live births is very uncertain. A Cochrane review of lifestyle advice for infertility was also uncertain about births. In the largest US trial (379 women), losing 6.6% of body weight didn't lead to more healthy births than extra activity alone, though it improved health markers.
In women with PCOS and a higher weight, exercise with or without diet changes can restart ovulation. The international PCOS guideline recommends a healthy lifestyle, including exercise, before pregnancy, and letrozole as the first medicine to help you ovulate. Our PCOS guide has the details.
Reviews of activity before IVF disagree: one, of 8 studies, found more pregnancies and births in more active women, and another, of 12 studies, found no clear difference in births. In an older US study of 2,232 women, 4 or more hours of exercise a week for years went with fewer births. In a 2026 study of 2,576 patients, exercising once or twice a week went with the best results. In 107 women wearing activity monitors, more activity and less sitting before IVF went with more eggs, but not with more pregnancies.
NICE says bed rest of more than 20 minutes after embryo transfer doesn't improve the outcome of IVF. In 4 trials (757 women), bed rest didn't increase pregnancies or births, and across 21,598 treatment cycles, births were no higher with bed rest. A review found no sign that moderate activity does harm, though that evidence is of very low certainty.
These are starting points for someone without warning signs, not prescriptions.
The NHS guideline for adults is at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, such as brisk walking or cycling, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, plus muscle strengthening on at least 2 days, and less time sitting. That's a good amount while you're trying to conceive.
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Start with 10 to 20 minutes on most days and add a few minutes each week (our editorial starting point). Any activity is better than none.
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If you're a healthy weight or lighter, train hard for 5 hours or more a week, and it's taking a while or your cycles are irregular, our suggestion is to swap some hard sessions for moderate ones and make sure you eat enough for your training. NICE advises moderating high levels of exercise when ovulation has stopped for this reason.
No study shows that one kind of exercise, such as running, lifting weights, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), Pilates or yoga, helps or harms fertility in itself. What the studies point to is the total amount of hard effort, and whether you eat enough for it.
Strength training on 2 days a week is part of the NHS guideline, and no study links it with poorer fertility. If you already lift heavy, carry on; if you're new to it, start light and learn the moves (our suggestion).
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If you eat too little for the exercise you do, your body saves energy by turning down other jobs, including ovulation. The Endocrine Society links this kind of missed period with stress, weight loss and excessive exercise. The NHS lists doing too much exercise and sudden weight loss among the causes of missed periods, alongside stress, PMOS and thyroid problems.
Do a pregnancy test first. See a GP if you've missed 3 periods in a row, your periods have become irregular, or you have other symptoms. Treatment is usually eating more, or better, and sometimes training less, with medical, dietary and mental health support together. NICE adds gaining weight to a healthy weight if your BMI is under 18.5.
Periods that stop for months can weaken your bones as well as affect fertility. Our menstrual cycle guide explains more.
Beat, the eating disorder charity, runs helplines from 3pm to 8pm on weekdays: 0808 801 0677 in England, 0808 801 0432 in Scotland, 0808 801 0433 in Wales and 0808 801 0434 in Northern Ireland. Our eating disorders guide covers exercise and recovery.
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With a BMI of 30 or over, it's likely to take longer to conceive, and if you're not ovulating, losing weight is likely to help. Men with a BMI of 30 or over also have a higher risk of reduced fertility. With a BMI under 18.5 and irregular or absent periods, gaining weight is likely to help.
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In women with a higher weight, vigorous activity was linked with conceiving faster, and in women with a higher weight who'd had earlier losses, so was regular walking. In women with a higher weight who aren't ovulating, exercise can restart ovulation.
Weight-loss programmes before IVF led to more pregnancies, mostly natural ones, but not clearly more births. In a Nordic trial, a 12-week low-calorie diet before IVF took off 9.4 kg without raising live births (29.6% against 27.5%), though more babies were conceived naturally. In a 2026 trial of 127 women, natural pregnancies were twice as common (27% against 12.5%), with births not significantly different. Fertility falls with age, so talk to your GP or clinic about timing rather than waiting a long time to lose weight.
Exercise, with or without diet changes, can restart ovulation in women with PCOS and a higher weight, and the international guideline names letrozole as the first medicine to help you ovulate. Our PCOS guide covers exercise for PCOS in full.
If you take a weight-loss medicine, ask your GP or pharmacist about it before trying to conceive. NICE asks doctors to check medicines when fertility is a concern, and the NHS says not to stop any prescribed medicine until you've talked to your GP or specialist.
Your clinic's advice comes first. IUI (intrauterine insemination) and other treatments that stimulate the ovaries follow the same pattern.
Keep up regular, moderate activity. Studies of activity before IVF disagree, but none suggests stopping, and in one, more activity and less sitting went with more eggs collected. It isn't the time to start an extreme new programme (our suggestion).
You inject medicine for about 2 weeks so that several eggs grow, and your ovaries get bigger. There are no trials of exercise at this stage. NHS hospital leaflets written for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome say to stay gently active, avoid sudden or jerky movements because enlarged ovaries can twist, and avoid strenuous exercise until symptoms settle. A twisted ovary during exercise after fertility treatment has been reported, though it's rare.
Our suggestion is to follow the same caution while your ovaries are enlarged: walking, light strength work and stretching, but no jumping, running, fast twisting or heavy lifting until your clinic says otherwise.
Eggs are collected with a needle under sedation, which takes about 20 minutes, and mild discomfort afterwards is normal. Rest that day and walk gently from the next day if you feel well (our suggestion). OHSS usually develops after the trigger injection given before egg collection, and if you're not pregnant it usually settles within 7 to 10 days.
Bed rest doesn't help, so carry on with normal daily life and moderate exercise you're used to. In one study, women did almost no hard exercise after transfer, so its effect isn't known.
The NHS gives you a pregnancy test to use around 16 days after the transfer. Our suggestion is to skip new, very hard or very hot sessions while you wait, because if you're pregnant the NHS advises against starting a new vigorous activity.
One NHS trust's leaflet says mild OHSS can affect 33% of women having treatment, and moderate or severe OHSS 5%; another's says severe or critical OHSS now happens in about 0.1% of UK IVF cycles. It's more likely with polycystic ovaries, if you've had OHSS before, or when many eggs are collected. The warning signs are below.
Studies of exercise in pregnancy found no link with miscarriage (23 studies, 7,125 women), and trials found no increase either. The evidence is of very low certainty, and little is known about very large amounts of exercise. Exercise isn't on the NHS list of things that raise the chance of miscarriage, and the European guideline on repeated miscarriage found too little evidence to recommend anything about exercise.
A Danish study of 92,671 women linked more than 7 hours a week of exercise, and high-impact exercise, in the first 18 weeks with more miscarriages, but most women were asked about their exercise after their loss, which can bias what they remember. In 785 pregnancies in women with earlier losses, higher activity went with more very early losses seen only on hormone tests (55 in all), but not with more recognised miscarriages.
The NHS says the cause isn't always known, but it's often a problem with the way the pregnancy develops. Things that raise the chance include being 35 or over, obesity or being underweight, a thyroid condition, smoking, alcohol and drinking a lot of caffeine.
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The NHS says to rest if you need to, and that you can try again when you feel ready, once your symptoms have gone. Periods can take up to 8 weeks to return, and most women who've had a miscarriage go on to have a successful pregnancy. Return to gentle activity when bleeding and pain have settled, at your own pace (our suggestion).
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Miscarriage UK's helpline is 0303 003 6464 and Tommy's is 0800 0147 800. See a GP if you've had 3 or more miscarriages: you'll usually be referred for tests.
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In 4,921 men in Denmark and North America, physical activity wasn't consistently linked with how quickly their partners got pregnant, and in 215 young Spanish men it wasn't linked with semen quality. In 189 young US men, those doing 15 or more hours a week of moderate to vigorous activity had 73% higher sperm concentration, and those watching more than 20 hours of TV a week had 44% lower. Staying active is good for men's health; it isn't a proven sperm treatment.
A 2024 review of 6 trials (1,637 men) reported better semen results with exercise, but its pregnancy figures came from three trials by a single research group, one of which has since been retracted. At least three trials claiming that exercise improves male fertility have now been retracted by their journals, so treat claims that exercise boosts sperm with caution.
In 2,261 men at a fertility clinic, cycling 5 or more hours a week was linked with lower sperm counts. In a 2025 study of men trying for a baby, the link with time to pregnancy was weaker and uncertain. If you ride many hours a week and it's taking a while, a semen test will show whether there's a problem (our suggestion).
NICE says a higher temperature around the testicles is linked with poorer semen quality, though it's uncertain whether loose underwear helps; the NHS suggests loose underwear. In 10 men, saunas twice a week for 3 months lowered sperm count and movement, which fully recovered 6 months after stopping. In 11 men who stopped using hot tubs or hot baths, 5 had a big rise in moving sperm. While you're trying, keep saunas, hot tubs and very hot baths occasional (our suggestion).
The NHS warns that anabolic steroids can cause a reduced sperm count, infertility and shrunken testicles. In 100 men followed through one course, 77% had a total sperm count below 40 million during use, and a year later 34% still did. NICE asks men about testosterone treatment when fertility is a concern: if you take testosterone and want a baby, talk to your doctor before making any change.
A BMI of 30 or over raises the risk of reduced fertility in men. The NHS also suggests drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, stopping smoking and losing weight if you're overweight. See a GP if you've been trying for over a year, or 6 months if your partner is 36 or over.
The NHS recommends 400 micrograms of folic acid a day when you're trying to get pregnant, ideally from 3 months before, until 12 weeks of pregnancy. Some people need a higher 5mg dose, which a GP can prescribe.
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Speak to a GP before trying if you or your partner live with a long-term condition or take any medicine, including herbal remedies. Don't stop any prescribed medicine until you've talked to your GP or specialist.
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Our hot yoga page suggests that if you're trying to conceive, the early weeks of a pregnancy are when overheating matters most, so very hot classes are best left for now (our suggestion).
NICE says stress in either partner can affect your relationship, libido and how often you have sex, and that people with fertility problems should be offered counselling. Exercise helps many people with stress and sleep, but no study shows that relaxing makes conception more likely.
The NHS says exercise is safe for you and your baby in pregnancy: keep up your usual activity, but don't start a new vigorous activity such as running. Our pregnancy guide and plan cover each trimester.
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Build towards 150 minutes a week at a pace where you can talk but not sing (NHS), starting with 10 to 20 minutes if you're new to it (our editorial starting point). The cross-trainer starts at 10 to 20 minutes, building towards 30 (the move page's dose).
3D demoTreadmill walkingBeginner · Cardio machine
3D demoElliptical trainerBeginner · Cardio machine
3D demoIndoor rowing (rowing machine)Beginner · Cardio machine
3D demoStationary cyclingBeginner · Cardio machine
3D demoStep jack (low-impact jumping jack)Beginner · No equipment
3D demoTreadmill joggingIntermediate · Cardio machineOn 2 days a week (NHS): 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 12 of each move, stopping 2 to 3 repetitions short of failure (our editorial starting point). Start with the chair and wall versions if you're new to it.
3D demoDumbbell goblet squatIntermediate · A dumbbell
3D demoSit to stand from a chairBeginner · A bench or box
3D demoDumbbell Romanian deadliftIntermediate · A dumbbell
3D demoHip-hinge practiceBeginner · No equipment
3D demoSupported single-arm dumbbell rowIntermediate · A dumbbell + A bench or box
3D demoBand rowBeginner · A band + An anchor point
3D demoIncline push-upBeginner · A bench or box
3D demoWall push-upBeginner · A wall
3D demoStep-upBeginner · A step
3D demoGlute bridgeBeginner · No equipment
3D demoFarmer's carryBeginner · A dumbbell + A kettlebellPelvic floor squeezes: 8 slow holds of up to 10 seconds and 8 quick squeezes, 3 times a day, building towards 10 of each (the move page's dose); with pain during sex, start with the relaxation instead. Slow breathing: at least 5 minutes, regularly (the move page's dose).
3D demoPelvic floor exercise (Kegel)Beginner · No equipment
3D demoPelvic floor relaxation (reverse Kegel)Beginner · No equipment
3D demoSlow breathing (6 breaths a minute)Beginner · No equipment
3D demoBox breathingBeginner · No equipment
3D demoLateral breathing (Pilates breathing)Beginner · No equipment
3D demoReclining bound angle pose (Supta Baddha Konasana)Beginner · Firm cushion
3D demoCat-cowBeginner · No equipment
3D demoCorpse pose (Savasana)Beginner · No equipmentOur suggestion while the injections have enlarged your ovaries: 10 to 30 minutes of easy walking, and 1 to 2 sets of 8 to 10 of the strength moves with a light band (editorial). Stop anything that pulls on your tummy, and follow your clinic.
The easy cardio and strength workouts cover most weeks. The 10-minute starter workout has no jumping, so it suits IVF injection days. The stress and breathing routines help with the waiting; they won't change your chances.
A steady 30 to 45 minute cardio session at talk-but-not-sing pace: walk, cycle, row or cross-train, counting toward weekly activity guidelines.
40 minBeginner3 movesCardio machine, A wallA 25-minute standing cardio circuit with no jumping: marching, step jacks, sit-to-stands, punches, step-ups and wall push-ups, with a seated option for most moves.
25 minBeginner9 movesA bench or box, A stepA 10-minute session for low-energy days: marching, sit-to-stands, wall push-ups, step-ups and bridges, then a short walk. Doing a little counts.
10 minBeginner7 movesA bench or box, A wallA gentle 20-minute beginner home workout with a chair, a wall and a band: sit-to-stands, wall push-ups, band rows, step-ups and dead bugs.
20 minBeginner11 movesA bench or box, A wallA 20-minute full-body dumbbell workout: two supersets of squats, rows, Romanian deadlifts and push-ups. Twice a week covers the minimum dose.
20 minBeginner8 movesA dumbbell, A bench or boxA 5-minute daily pelvic floor workout for women and men: slow holds and quick squeezes, three times a day, with how to find the right muscles.
5 minBeginner2 movesNo equipmentAn 8-minute routine for a tight pelvic floor: slow breathing and comfortable positions to help the muscles let go, with no strengthening squeezes.
8 minBeginner5 movesFirm cushionA 12-minute reset for stressful days: 4 minutes of brisk movement, 3 minutes to loosen your neck, shoulders and back, then 5 minutes of slow breathing.
12 minBeginner10 movesA bench or box, A wallA 6-minute breathing routine: slow breathing, crocodile breathing, alternate nostril breathing, box breathing and 4-7-8 breathing.
6 minBeginner5 movesNo equipmentA 25-minute gentle yoga class for complete beginners and over-50s: slow breathing, a warm-up, supported standing poses, floor poses and a closing rest.
25 minBeginner14 movesNo equipmentFor weekly structure while you're trying. Once you have a positive test, the pregnancy plan shows what changes.
Your first four weeks: two, then three short strength sessions a week at home plus walks, building gently to a full routine.
2 training days20 minBeginner3 days a weekA weekly workout plan for women: three strength days, cardio and pelvic floor training, with the evidence on periods, pregnancy and menopause.
3 training days45 minBeginner4 days a weekA 4-day gym workout routine for men: upper and lower days, each muscle trained twice a week, with sets, reps, progression and the evidence.
4 training days50 minIntermediate6 days a weekA free 8-week walking plan for beginners: build to 150 minutes of brisk walking a week, with intervals, hills and two short strength sessions.
6 training days40 minBeginner5 days a weekA 12-week workout plan for weight loss: three strength days, two cardio days and daily steps, building to 200 minutes a week, with honest results.
3 training days45 minBeginner5 days a weekA pregnancy workout plan for each trimester: walks or swims, two strength sessions a week off your back, daily pelvic floor work and when to stop.
5 training days30 minBeginnerThis is general information, not a diagnosis. A&E means accident and emergency. In the US, call 911 where this page says 999.
Stop exercising and call 999 for:
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The NHS says these could be severe symptoms of OHSS or of an ectopic pregnancy. Don't drive yourself to A&E.
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One NHS trust's leaflet adds that sudden severe tummy pain with vomiting and feeling unwell can mean a twisted ovary, a rare emergency that needs urgent help.
Call 999 if you have vaginal bleeding with severe tummy pain, pain in your shoulder, feeling sick, faint or dizzy, or heavy bleeding (soaking a period pad soon after putting it on). For light bleeding or spotting, or unusual discharge, get urgent help from your maternity unit, an early pregnancy unit or NHS 111.
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Go to A&E or call 999 for sudden, severe pain in a testicle, testicle pain with feeling or being sick or tummy pain, or testicle pain that has lasted more than an hour or continues at rest. For a lump, swelling or a change in a testicle's size or shape, ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111.
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Fertility problems and treatment can be hard, and NICE says counselling should be offered. Talk to your GP or clinic. If you're having thoughts of harming yourself, call Samaritans free on 116 123 at any time, or 988 in the US.
Studies of exercise in pregnancy found no link with miscarriage, trials found no increase, and exercise isn't on the NHS list of risk factors. The evidence is of very low certainty, so the honest answer is that there's no good evidence it causes miscarriage, and none that it prevents it.
NICE says bed rest of more than 20 minutes doesn't improve the outcome of IVF, and trials found no benefit.
NICE says complementary therapies for fertility haven't been properly evaluated, and we found no trial showing that yoga or any pose makes pregnancy more likely. Yoga is still a pleasant way to move and relax.
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There's no need to stop interval training or lifting you're used to. Moderate activity is linked with fewer fertility problems, vigorous exercise was linked with slower conception only at high amounts in women of a healthy weight, and no study shows that lifting harms fertility.
Periods that stop with hard training or weight loss mean your body has turned down the hormones that trigger ovulation, which affects bone as well as fertility. The fix is eating more and sometimes training less.
The trial evidence is weak, and several trials behind the claim have been retracted. In large studies, men's activity isn't consistently linked with fertility. Being active is good for men's health; it isn't a proven sperm treatment.
Weight-loss programmes before IVF increased pregnancies, mostly natural ones, but it's uncertain whether they lead to more births.
No study shows that ordinary exercise stops implantation. After IVF transfer, activity wasn't linked with the outcome, though hard exercise wasn't studied, and bed rest doesn't help. Skip new, very hard or very hot sessions in case you're pregnant.
Yes. Regular moderate activity is linked with fewer fertility problems, and the usual guideline applies: 150 minutes of moderate activity a week plus strength work on 2 days. Exercise isn't a fertility treatment, but it's good preparation for pregnancy.
There's no exact cut-off. In women of a healthy weight, 5 or more hours a week of vigorous exercise, or more than about an hour a day of very hard training, has been linked with taking longer to conceive or not ovulating, though another study found the opposite. If that's you and it's taking a while, swap some hard sessions for moderate ones and make sure you eat enough.
Yes, when training is very heavy or you eat too little for it: your body turns down the hormones that trigger ovulation. Do a pregnancy test, and see a GP if you miss 3 periods in a row or your periods become irregular. Eating more and training less usually helps.
Yes, if you're used to them. No study shows that lifting harms fertility, and the links between vigorous exercise and slower conception were only at high amounts in women of a healthy weight. During IVF injections, follow your clinic and keep things gentle.
Not directly for most people. With a higher weight or PCOS, activity and healthier eating can restart ovulation and lead to more natural pregnancies, and NICE says a group exercise and diet programme leads to more pregnancies than weight-loss advice alone. In women of a healthy weight with regular cycles, no trial shows exercise makes pregnancy more likely.
Gentle exercise is usually fine, but follow your clinic's advice. The injections enlarge your ovaries, and NHS leaflets for people with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome advise avoiding sudden or jerky movements and strenuous exercise. Our suggestion is to keep to walking, light strength work and stretching until your clinic says otherwise.
Yes, gently. Bed rest doesn't help: NICE says resting more than 20 minutes after transfer doesn't improve the outcome. Carry on with normal life and moderate exercise you're used to, but don't start anything new and very hard, since the NHS advises against starting a new vigorous activity in pregnancy.
There's no good evidence that it does, and none that it prevents one. Studies of exercise in pregnancy found no link with miscarriage, though the research is low quality and little is known about very large amounts of exercise. Exercise isn't on the NHS list of things that raise the risk.
Not reliably. Large studies don't show a consistent link between men's activity and fertility, and several trials claiming big improvements have been retracted. Staying active and a healthy weight is still good for men trying for a baby.
Heat can lower sperm quality: regular saunas reduced sperm counts in a small study, recovering within 6 months, and the NHS suggests loose underwear. Cycling 5 or more hours a week has been linked with lower sperm counts. While you're trying, keep heat occasional, and get checked if it's taking a while.
If your BMI is 30 or over, it's likely to take longer to conceive, and if you're not ovulating, losing weight is likely to help. Trials before IVF found more pregnancies, mostly natural ones, but no clear rise in births, so talk to your GP or clinic about timing, as age matters too. If your BMI is under 18.5 with irregular periods, gaining weight helps.
See a GP if you haven't conceived after a year of trying, or sooner if you're a woman aged 36 or over or already know of a possible problem. Men whose partner is 36 or over can go after 6 months. Both partners should be checked, and NICE refers people aged 36 or over to a specialist straight away.
Exercise education, not a diagnosis or treatment plan, and clinical review of these guides is pending. Stop and get advice for chest pain, unusual breathlessness, dizziness or fainting, or new pain, and check with your doctor or midwife first if they have told you to limit activity. Health disclaimer.
