20 papers reviewed
Exercise for Fertility, Symptoms & Treatment
2002 · prospective cohort · 1 of 20
Vigorous activity, leisure-time activity, and risk of ovulatory disorder infertility
Rich-Edwards JW et al. · Epidemiology
In 116,671 women from the Nurses' Health Study II, each hour/week of vigorous activity was associated with 7% lower risk of ovulatory infertility.
Read the paper ↗1986 · case-control · 2 of 20
Body weight, physical activity, and risk of tubular-factor infertility
Green BB et al. · American Journal of Public Health
1+ hour/day of vigorous exercise was associated with approximately 6x infertility risk (non-tubal factor). Early evidence establishing the upper end of the U-shaped exercise-fertility curve.
Read the paper ↗2017 · review · 3 of 20
Exercise and reproductive function in sporting women
Hakimi O, Cameron LC · Sports Medicine
U-shaped dose-response curve for exercise and fertility: 30-60 min/day moderate-vigorous exercise helps, >60 min/day hurts. Exercise >1hr and <5hr/week optimal zone.
Read the paper ↗2019 · meta-analysis · 4 of 20
Effect of physical activity on pregnancy rate: a meta-analysis of recent studies
Mena GP, Mielke GI, Brown WJ · Human Reproduction Update
Physical activity interventions improved pregnancy rates: approximately 17% vs 11% with PA intervention vs control.
Read the paper ↗1985 · RCT · 5 of 20
Induction of ovulatory disturbances by strenuous exercise in untrained women
Bullen BA et al. · New England Journal of Medicine
Experimentally proved strenuous exercise disrupts ovulation within 2 cycles in untrained women. The foundational paper establishing exercise-induced menstrual disturbance.
Read the paper ↗2023 · consensus statement · 6 of 20
2023 International Olympic Committee's (IOC) consensus statement on relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs)
Mountjoy ML et al. · British Journal of Sports Medicine
Current IOC consensus on RED-S / Female Athlete Triad. Low energy availability impairs menstrual function, bone health, and fertility. Prevention requires adequate fueling relative to exercise expenditure.
Read the paper ↗2017 · clinical practice guideline · 7 of 20
Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline
Gordon CM et al. · Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Endocrine Society guideline on functional hypothalamic amenorrhea. First-line treatment is restoring energy balance (increasing caloric intake and/or reducing exercise intensity).
Read the paper ↗2020 · systematic review / meta-analysis · 8 of 20
Resistance training for women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Santos IKD et al. · Medicine
Exercise reduces BMI in PCOS but has limited direct effect on reproductive hormones. Benefits are primarily metabolic and body composition improvements.
Read the paper ↗2020 · review · 9 of 20
Exercise interventions for women with polycystic ovary syndrome: best practice recommendations
Patten RK et al. · Frontiers in Physiology
Vigorous exercise >=120 min/week showed best results for PCOS cardiometabolic outcomes. Resistance training and HIIT both effective.
Read the paper ↗2025 · systematic review / meta-analysis · 10 of 20
Exercise and endometriosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Xie Y et al. · PLOS ONE
Exercise improves quality of life, pain, and mental health in endometriosis with no safety signals. Supports exercise as adjunctive therapy.
Read the paper ↗2024 · network meta-analysis · 11 of 20
Exercise for the management of primary dysmenorrhea: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Tsai SY et al. · Sports Medicine Open
Across 29 RCTs, relaxation exercise was most effective for dysmenorrhea relief, followed by aerobic and resistance exercise.
Read the paper ↗2024 · network meta-analysis · 12 of 20
Effects of exercise on primary dysmenorrhea: a network meta-analysis
Zheng W et al. · BMC Women's Health
Across 49 RCTs, resistance and multi-component exercise ranked highest for dysmenorrhea relief. Pilates also notably effective.
Read the paper ↗2025 · systematic review / meta-analysis · 13 of 20
Effect of aerobic exercise on primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Cai H et al. · Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
Aerobic exercise reduced dysmenorrhea pain duration by approximately 12.5 hours per cycle.
Read the paper ↗2020 · meta-analysis · 14 of 20
Exercise and PMS: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Pearce E et al. · BJGP Open
Exercise reduces PMS symptom scores, but 87% of included trials had high bias risk. Evidence direction consistently positive despite quality limitations.
Read the paper ↗2026 · network meta-analysis · 15 of 20
Exercise modality and frequency for premenstrual syndrome: a network meta-analysis
Li Y et al. · BMC Women's Health
Running >=3x/week best for mood symptoms. Yoga >=3x/week for 9-12 weeks best for pain and fatigue symptoms.
Read the paper ↗2019 · meta-analysis · 16 of 20
Bed rest after embryo transfer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Cozzolino M, Troiano G, Esencan E · Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Bed rest after embryo transfer provides zero benefit for implantation or pregnancy rates. Extended immobilization may actually be counterproductive.
Read the paper ↗2023 · meta-analysis · 17 of 20
Physical activity and IVF outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Kakargia T et al. · Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics
No clear effect of physical activity on IVF live birth rate in either direction across 3,431 participants. Moderate activity is safe during treatment.
Read the paper ↗2023 · secondary analysis of RCT · 18 of 20
Physical activity and live birth in women with obesity and infertility
Vitek W et al. · F&S Reports
More activity was not detrimental to live birth in obese women with unexplained infertility undergoing treatment.
Read the paper ↗2014 · cohort · 19 of 20
Effect of a Hatha yoga program on anxiety and depression pre-embryo transfer
Valoriani V et al. · European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Hatha yoga pre-embryo transfer significantly lowered anxiety, depression, and stress scores.
Read the paper ↗2023 · RCT · 20 of 20
Effect of 12-week yoga therapy on quality of life and Indian infertility score in infertile women with PCOS
Patil NJ et al. · International Journal of Yoga
12-week yoga improved PCOS metabolic markers and quality of life. Nearly double the pregnancies in yoga vs control (secondary outcome, read cautiously due to small sample).
Read the paper ↗A paper's presence documents the evidence reviewed; it does not mean Filia endorses every intervention or conclusion.