How Fitness Interacts With Fertility

While we don’t all make time for it, we know that exercise will help us stay healthy. And it only stands to reason that exercise will keep our bodies healthy and ready for conception. However, the relationship between fertility and exercise is only beginning to be understood.

Weight affects fertility, with 12 percent of infertility cases related to underweight problems, and 25 percent of infertility cases are related to overweight challenges. So, exercise to get your weight to the right place and you should be golden, right?

Well, in some ways, yes. Aiming for that 18.5 to 24.9 body-mass index range is a good step to take. But too much exercise can actually imbalance your hormones. You should aim for about 30 minutes of moderately intense activity about five days each week. If you’re working out longer than that, or very intensely, you can decrease the production of the hormones that stimulate your ovary functions. The release of endorphins from very intense workouts can also suppress hormones responsible for producing eggs. And the more intensely you work out, the more likely you are to break down proteins in your muscles, producing ammonia, which can inhibit pregnancy.

If you do like to work out, or you’re trying to get healthy, don’t worry. There’s no reason to give up your runs or spinning, but keep it to less than an hour a few days a week, and don’t work yourself so hard you can hardly breathe.

And if you’re trying to work out more often in general, the benefits will still boost your fertility. It will improve your metabolism, circulation, and those will help your body produce eggs. Not to mention you’ll feel better in general!

If you’d like to schedule an appointment to discuss exercise or other factors that can affect your fertility, give us a call at 717-747-3099 or click the link below to schedule an appointment.

Sincerely,

Dr. Melanie Ochalski

P.S. Fitness is one of many factors that interact with your fertility. Find out more on our facts page.

Source: http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/health/pregnancy/how-exercise-affects-fertility/