Exercise and Fertility | Can You Exercise During the Two-Week Wait? What’s Safe in the Luteal Phase?

Dr. Natalie Crawford, board-certified OB-GYN and Reproductive Endocrinologist, breaks down whether you can—and should—exercise during the luteal phase and the two-week wait. She explains how progesterone changes your metabolism, recovery, and energy after ovulation, why strength training is still encouraged, and how to modify workouts if you’re trying to conceive or undergoing fertility treatment.

Questions Answered:

Can you safely exercise during the luteal phase and two-week wait if you’re trying to get pregnant?

Why do some fertility doctors tell patients not to work out during this time?

What’s the basic difference between the follicular phase and luteal phase of the cycle?

How do hormones like FSH, estrogen, and LH change across the cycle?

What does progesterone do in the luteal phase and early pregnancy?

How does the luteal phase change things like body temperature, heart rate, and recovery?

Does exercising in the luteal phase cause miscarriage or stop implantation?

Is high‑intensity or long, hard exercise a problem when you’re trying to get pregnant?

What kind of workouts are best across your cycle if you want to build muscle and support fertility?

How should you adjust your training plan when you feel more tired in the luteal phase?

Why do intense runners sometimes have luteal phase problems or low progesterone?

How should you change your workouts during fertility treatments to avoid ovarian torsion?