 The stress that comes with infertility and undergoing assisted reproductive treatment can be equivalent to that of someone dealing with cancer or heart disease. Depression, anxiety and stress are very common in those undergoing treatment. There are many reasons for this stress and these can relate to a sense of a loss of hope, the stress of constant appointments and invasive procedures such as the injections required and egg retrieval surgery, and the stress that follows an embryo transfer and waiting for a pregnancy test. Oh, and the financial stress, relationship stress, the side effects from all the drugs, the stress of treatment outcome….. you get the picture. It’s amazing that any of us come out the other end remotely normal! Ironically, while the fertility treatment you are undergoing to get pregnant increases stress, stress is not conducive to a positive outcome for assisted reproductive treatment. Women with prolonged elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol (measured from hair samples which provide a picture of exposure to stress over time) prior to treatment were 27% less likely to get pregnant. How can you Manage or Even Reduce this Stress During your Treatment? Exercise! A scientifically proven mood booster that will also improve your sleep and chance of IVF success.
The evidence to support the benefits of exercise for improving the outcome of assisted reproductive treatments is overwhelming. Give yourself every chance of success!  The amount of sleep we get impacts our production of hormones, how we regulate blood sugar and can also affect our weight.
It is not too much of a surprise then that missing out on quality sleep can also affect our fertility. Sleep disruption, or not getting enough sleep, can alter levels of reproductive hormones, affecting ovulation, endometrium receptivity and libido! Aim for 7-8 hours of undisturbed sleep a night. A great excuse to hit the pillow early!  Blood is a great transporter of heat so areas of the body with good blood flow will have a higher skin temperature. Some research has linked an increased risk of miscarriage to reduced uterine blood flow and interestingly, abdominal temperature in infertile women is lower than that of fertile women, suggesting reduced blood flow to the uterus. Increased fertility stress has also been associated with reduced endometrial blood flow.
SO HOW DO YOU INCREASE CIRCULATION TO YOUR REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS? Anytime muscles contract they generate heat. Repeated muscle contraction, which happens during exercise, will also lead to greater blood flow. With increased blood flow comes an increase in the delivery of oxygen to tissues – an essential fuel for our cells to function and grow. The right intensity of exercise increases blood flow immediately. A super easy, free way to boost blood flow!  Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition and common cause of infertility. For 20% of people seeking fertility treatment it is the sole reason they require assisted reproductive technologies.
A recent study shows that eggs retrieved from women with endometriosis are less likely to mature once collected, have altered morphology and lower levels of mitochondria which are considered the powerhouses of our cells essential for growth and maturation. How Can You Improve Your Chance of Success with IVF? Physical activity reduces inflammation, increases the number of mitochondria and improves egg quality. Engaging in regular exercise is also beneficial for stress reduction and stress is known to exacerbate endometriosis and associated inflammation. Unsure where to start? Get professional advice at theivfproject.com  We produce free radicals with every breath. Free radicals are important in signaling pathways and stimulating positive adaptations but too many free radicals or not enough antioxidant defenses leads to greater oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress is linked to DNA damage of eggs and sperm and more recent research suggests that a higher level of oxidative stress following stimulation for egg retrieval is associated with poorer outcomes from stimulation cycles.. How do you Reduce Oxidative stress or raise your antioxidant defenses? Proven strategies include:
Knowing where to start can be difficult and overwhelming. Get advice from the experts that have helped women and men achieve their dream. Join us at www.theivfproject.com  We have an important relationship with the microbes (mostly bacteria) that live in and on us. They help us extract nutrients from food, fight infection and can even affect our mood!
Our diet, activity levels, stress and medication can all have an impact on the diversity of our microbiome. Low diversity is associated with a number of metabolic diseases, gastrointestinal diseases and obesity. Did you know that the microbes in the fluid surrounding your eggs (follicular fluid) can influence IVF outcome? Beneficial populations of microbes found in sperm are also associated with improved sperm quality. Want to improve your microbial diversity? PROVEN strategies include exercise and diet. Get moving and include some onion, leek, wheat bran and banana in your diet. Unsure where to start? Join us at www.theivfproject.com!  Doing everything you can to improve your chance of success? We have written for our friends at FertilitySmarts with The IVF Project's top things you need to know about the role of exercise in your treatment.
Head over to our friends at FertilitySmarts to find out what you need to know! The bonus is that educating yourself and engaging in lifestyle change can increase the chance of IVF pregnancy by 40%.  Without a clear purpose it is hard to find the motivation to move more. Thinking about WHY you want to exercise more is a great place to start. Would you like to:
Once you have a clear goal in mind, make a plan. Think about the activities you will do and when you will do them. A plan will help keep you on track and motivate you!  Exercise is one 'tool' in your resilience coping tool box and a morning walk each test day was my saving grace! Other coping strategies may involve:
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