Caffeine and Exercise w/ IVF?

prayinghard · 07-27-2007, 07:20 AM

If anyone has done IVF, I am starting the process, and want to know if you were told it was okay to still drink caffeine and exercise while doing the injections. I've been doing the injections for about 2 weeks now, and still feel great. Thanks!

Pautau426 · 07-27-2007, 10:44 AM

I have been taking Lupron, Menopur and Follistim and been drinking my ice coffee every morning and no one has said not too,what I have done is cut down. I used to drink two cups large and now just one. I even drink decaf which tricks my brain in thinking that is was regular. But to be on the safe side just talk to your doctor and see what they say.
Good Luck

CMC123 · 08-01-2007, 08:55 PM

My RE recommended no caffeine but I can continue to exercise as long as I feel comfortable.

lianyla · 08-02-2007, 02:25 PM

As an EX- coffee fanatic and successful one time IVFer.. I can only give you the very same advice that was given to me by some very smart people WAY back in February...

I was a ONE big cup in the morning gal and an occasional flavored coffee for fun person. I LOVED IT. Couldn't speak and function w/o it.. Anyway, I did 3 failed IUI cycles and 13 natural cycles on my own all BFN. ALL drinking coffee....

I was talking with a woman in my classroom and she has 4 year old twins from IVF.. I told her I was about to start stimming for my IVF. She said, "HEY, are you a caffeine drinker?" And I looked at her suspiciously and said "YES, why?" And she said, "Now, I do not want to tell you what to do but STOP drinking it." (She is a doctor and a psychologist, I need to add.) I asked her why and w/o getting into too many details, she told me how caffeine has been shown to "interfere" with the lining and embryo implantation at some level. There have even been studies linking caffeine intake to miscarriage. Needless to say, that morning was my last cup of coffee and voila!

I'm not stupid and I do know that cutting out caffeine is certainly NOT the magic bullet in the equation but I just told myself that if I am willing to spend 30,000 dollars on this- shouldn't I just give up the ghost?

Undoubtedly, someone is thinking "that is soo stupid. Millions of women get pregnant everyday while doing crack, etc and coffee is very benign, blah blah..."

This is true. However, these women have not been through what I have been through. I am and was willing to do ANYTHING. Why risk it?

Having said all this.. at 13 weeks pg I started getting TERRIBLE migraines and was 'prescribed' caffeine to help w/ them. After the implantation process has taken place, it does not have the same effect. So.. now that it's later on in the pregnancy, it's a different story..

Anyway, I just wanted to share my totally personal story and I hope that it helps someone else.

Good luck to all of you. It will happen!!

prayinghard · 08-02-2007, 09:49 PM

THanks...I go in for my egg retreival this Sunday. I'm getting nervous and excited! Thanks for the advice. I have definitely cut back on the diet coke!

babyjewels · 09-19-2007, 10:42 PM

Good info everyone! I too was wondering about the caffeine link. I cut back on it while stimming (8 oz/day rather than 12 oz), and now that I've had my transfer, I have fully stopped drinking any caffeine. Which, believe me, has been so difficult! It's day 5 for me for not having any, but I'm doing it to try to make a dream come true. If this IVF doesn't work, then I think I'll totally cut it out for the next full cycle - I've done it for 5 days, hopefully it will only get easier as my body adjusts!

pyxey · 09-22-2007, 02:50 PM

Hey guys, just my 2 cents

Caffeine completely stimulates the adrenal glands, which are glands in our body that control a lot of our hormonal processes....
It also increases adrenaline, which is a stress hormone, and many people feel that mother nature gets funny about making chronically stressed women pregnant...
I finally got pregnant during my last iui cycle, once I'd dropped caffeine... unfortunately it was an ectopic, but I had tried 3 iui's before then with absolutely no success, so I considered it a step forwards

I feel a lot better off the caffeine too - after the initial headaches and energy level problems.
Good luck!
Colleen

HOPE4BABY71 · 10-10-2007, 12:55 PM

Question for anyone -- Have any of you used Prometrium vaginal suppositories? Our RE prescribes them after IUI cycles unlike the Progesterone shots for IVF. I am not sure if I am getting it where it needs to be and then there is the discharge. I am wondering if the medication is getting where it needs and the rest comes back out. Has anyone else ever had this problem? At this point I would rather have the shot even though I know our RE doesnt prescribe that for IUI. Anyone with any advice?

pyxey · 10-10-2007, 01:00 PM

ick, I hate those suppositories

But they do seem to increase your progesterone levels... (based on experience after having an iui cycle with and without them)
I put one in at night, all the way up, like you're putting in an OB tampon or checking your cervix.
Then I would set my alarm 20 minutes early in the morning, put one in, and then get up after 20 minutes and start my day.
Yeah, it feels like it all melts and falls out, but it does make a difference.
Good luck! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

HOPE4BABY71 · 10-10-2007, 01:08 PM

Thanks Pyxey -- I was thinking maybe I was doing something wrong but sounds like that is just the way they are. I do them morning and at bedtime also. Just something we have to deal with right

Good luck to everyone!! It helps to have people who are going through or have gone through it. I didnt realize until I got on a couple threads just how much help others can be. Just wish I had more email access.

07-27-2007, 07:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
prayinghard Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 114	Caffeine and Exercise w/ IVF? If anyone has done IVF, I am starting the process, and want to know if you were told it was okay to still drink caffeine and exercise while doing the injections. I've been doing the injections for about 2 weeks now, and still feel great. Thanks!

08-02-2007, 02:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
lianyla 1000-4999 post queen of hearts Join Date: May 2006 Location: Midwest Posts: 2,027	success pregnancy mentioned... As an EX- coffee fanatic and successful one time IVFer.. I can only give you the very same advice that was given to me by some very smart people WAY back in February... I was a ONE big cup in the morning gal and an occasional flavored coffee for fun person. I LOVED IT. Couldn't speak and function w/o it.. Anyway, I did 3 failed IUI cycles and 13 natural cycles on my own all BFN. ALL drinking coffee.... I was talking with a woman in my classroom and she has 4 year old twins from IVF.. I told her I was about to start stimming for my IVF. She said, "HEY, are you a caffeine drinker?" And I looked at her suspiciously and said "YES, why?" And she said, "Now, I do not want to tell you what to do but STOP drinking it." (She is a doctor and a psychologist, I need to add.) I asked her why and w/o getting into too many details, she told me how caffeine has been shown to "interfere" with the lining and embryo implantation at some level. There have even been studies linking caffeine intake to miscarriage. Needless to say, that morning was my last cup of coffee and voila! I'm not stupid and I do know that cutting out caffeine is certainly NOT the magic bullet in the equation but I just told myself that if I am willing to spend 30,000 dollars on this- shouldn't I just give up the ghost? Undoubtedly, someone is thinking "that is soo stupid. Millions of women get pregnant everyday while doing crack, etc and coffee is very benign, blah blah..." This is true. However, these women have not been through what I have been through. I am and was willing to do ANYTHING. Why risk it? Having said all this.. at 13 weeks pg I started getting TERRIBLE migraines and was 'prescribed' caffeine to help w/ them. After the implantation process has taken place, it does not have the same effect. So.. now that it's later on in the pregnancy, it's a different story.. Anyway, I just wanted to share my totally personal story and I hope that it helps someone else. Good luck to all of you. It will happen!!

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07-27-2007, 10:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
Pautau426 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 51	I have been taking Lupron, Menopur and Follistim and been drinking my ice coffee every morning and no one has said not too,what I have done is cut down. I used to drink two cups large and now just one. I even drink decaf which tricks my brain in thinking that is was regular. But to be on the safe side just talk to your doctor and see what they say. Good Luck

08-01-2007, 08:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
CMC123 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Arizona Posts: 170	My RE recommended no caffeine but I can continue to exercise as long as I feel comfortable.

08-02-2007, 09:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
prayinghard Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 114	THanks...I go in for my egg retreival this Sunday. I'm getting nervous and excited! Thanks for the advice. I have definitely cut back on the diet coke!

09-19-2007, 10:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
babyjewels 400-499 post 6 of hearts Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Northern California Posts: 449	Good info everyone! I too was wondering about the caffeine link. I cut back on it while stimming (8 oz/day rather than 12 oz), and now that I've had my transfer, I have fully stopped drinking any caffeine. Which, believe me, has been so difficult! It's day 5 for me for not having any, but I'm doing it to try to make a dream come true. If this IVF doesn't work, then I think I'll totally cut it out for the next full cycle - I've done it for 5 days, hopefully it will only get easier as my body adjusts!

09-22-2007, 02:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
pyxey Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 107	Hey guys, just my 2 cents Caffeine completely stimulates the adrenal glands, which are glands in our body that control a lot of our hormonal processes.... It also increases adrenaline, which is a stress hormone, and many people feel that mother nature gets funny about making chronically stressed women pregnant... I finally got pregnant during my last iui cycle, once I'd dropped caffeine... unfortunately it was an ectopic, but I had tried 3 iui's before then with absolutely no success, so I considered it a step forwards I feel a lot better off the caffeine too - after the initial headaches and energy level problems. Good luck! Colleen

10-10-2007, 12:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
HOPE4BABY71 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 8	Question for anyone -- Have any of you used Prometrium vaginal suppositories? Our RE prescribes them after IUI cycles unlike the Progesterone shots for IVF. I am not sure if I am getting it where it needs to be and then there is the discharge. I am wondering if the medication is getting where it needs and the rest comes back out. Has anyone else ever had this problem? At this point I would rather have the shot even though I know our RE doesnt prescribe that for IUI. Anyone with any advice?

10-10-2007, 01:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
pyxey Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 107	ick, I hate those suppositories But they do seem to increase your progesterone levels... (based on experience after having an iui cycle with and without them) I put one in at night, all the way up, like you're putting in an OB tampon or checking your cervix. Then I would set my alarm 20 minutes early in the morning, put one in, and then get up after 20 minutes and start my day. Yeah, it feels like it all melts and falls out, but it does make a difference. Good luck! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

10-10-2007, 01:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
HOPE4BABY71 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 8	Thanks Pyxey -- I was thinking maybe I was doing something wrong but sounds like that is just the way they are. I do them morning and at bedtime also. Just something we have to deal with right Good luck to everyone!! It helps to have people who are going through or have gone through it. I didnt realize until I got on a couple threads just how much help others can be. Just wish I had more email access.