During treatment & the two-week wait
Bed rest is a myth — moderate activity is safe
After embryo transfer: A meta-analysis found bed rest provides zero benefit for implantation or pregnancy rates. Extended immobilization may actually be counterproductive. You do not need to lie still.
During IVF: No clear effect of physical activity on IVF live birth rate in either direction across 3,431 participants. Moderate activity is safe during treatment cycles. More activity was not detrimental even in higher-BMI patients.
Yoga before transfer: Hatha yoga pre-embryo-transfer significantly lowered anxiety, depression, and stress scores. A 12-week yoga program nearly doubled pregnancies in PCOS (secondary outcome, small sample — read cautiously).
The overall message: stay active during fertility treatment. Avoid starting an extreme new program, but don’t stop moving.