As a Woman 119: Exercise and Fertility, with Dr. Sasha Hakman
Oct 17, 2021
Dr. Sasha Hakman, a board-certified OBGYN and reproductive endocrinology specialist who has lived experience with PCOS, talks about exercise, IVF, and pregnancy. She covers types of workouts that support fertility. She explains why strength training matters and how to combine cardio and resistance. Practical guidance for starting realistic routines and exercise safety during stimulation and after transfer.
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Doctor's Own PCOS And Elective Embryo Freezing
- Sasha Hakman discovered she had PCOS after years of irregular periods and acne when her AMH was elevated and ultrasound showed polycystic ovaries.
- She elected to freeze embryos at 32 because she worried about egg quality decline and wanted reproductive insurance before waiting until mid-30s.
Build Muscle To Improve Insulin And Ovulation
- Combine resistance training with cardio because muscle mass improves insulin sensitivity and lowers circulating testosterone, which helps ovulation especially in PCOS.
- Progressive overload (increase weight, reps, or sets) is key to gain lean mass that drives metabolic and reproductive benefits.
Learn Proper Lifting And Progressively Overload
- If new to weight training, work with a trainer to learn proper form and avoid injury so your muscles actually adapt.
- Don't reuse the same weights and reps forever; progressively increase load or reps to stimulate hypertrophy.