Some doctors don’t feel exercise is harmful while others recommend low impact exercise such as walking or light swimming. As the treatment cycle progresses, high impact exercise could put you at risk for a rare, but serious side effect called ovarian torsion. This happens when an enlarged ovary (due to the fertility medications you are taking) twists on itself. Additionally, some doctors suggest that intense physical activity may have some negative impact on your ability to become pregnant during IVF. So, please heed your doctor’s advice regarding exercise during your IVF cycle.

Diagnostic tests will help you determine if you are a candidate for IUI or IVF, or both. If you have blocked fallopian tubes, advanced maternal age, severe endometriosis, or reduced ovarian reserve, it may be recommended that you proceed directly to IVF without first trying IUI. If your husband or partner has severe male factor, then IVF may also be recommended. If testing and evaluation come back normal, you and your doctor will discuss the success rates of the two treatment options as well as the financial implications involved with each. A consultation with a fertility doctor is the first step in determining your course of treatment.

The success rates for IVF have been increasing over the years. Data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2007 showed a success rate of approximately 30 percent for women using IVF with their own eggs. Success rates for IVF depend on a number of factors, including the age of the woman, uterine abnormalities, and prior successful pregnancies.