Physical activity of women and affecting factors during of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment

Aim: To be determined physical activity conditions of women and affecting factors during the treatment of IVF. Method: This is a descriptive and cross sectional type research and it was done with 110 women who came to infertility polyclinics of İzmir Ege Maternity Hospital and Dokuz Eylül University Hospital. Data of the research was collected by "introductory information form" and "International Physical Activity Questionnaire" and were analysed by number, percentage, chi square test and one-way analysis of variance. Findings: It was determined that 53,6% of women showed low, 43,6% of them showed moderate, 2,7% of them showed high level of physical activity condition in induction and embryo transfer (ET) time period of IVF treatment. But during embryo transfer and pregnancy test (PT) of IVF tresatment it was observed that, 91,8% of women showed low and 8,2% of them showed moderate level of physical activity Low physical activity level was 10% before treatment and it increased the level of 91,8% during ET-PT treatment process. Before treatment, the 19,1% of high physical activity level was not observed on any women during treatment. It was determined that, during induction-ET process of treatment; working condition, activity condition in workplaces are the factors that increases physical activity of women, as for women whose decisions made by their spouses showed lower physical activity level. In both stages of the treatment, the group that said "I will decrease my activities when the treatment starts" showed lower level of physical activity. It is also determined that in the ET-PT process of treatment, the women that have reasons for decrease activities due to fear of miscarriage, showed lower physical activity level. Conclusion: It is determined that women decreased their physical activities in treatment process. Nurses should plan proper education according to adult education principles about physical activity effects to the treatment process, and the couples should be encouraged about moderate physical activity in the treatment process.Keywords: In vitro fertilization, phsical activity, woman.