When you’re trying to have a baby, it can seem like everyone has advice about what will help or hurt your chances. Specific positions, herbal cleanses, special diets – we’ve heard it all. But what about exercise? Are your regular sweat sessions increasing your chances, or sabotaging your efforts? Luckily, the fertility experts of UNC Fertility in Raleigh, North Carolina are here to help clear up the link between exercise and fertility.
Exercise and Healthy Weight
One thing that is clear about fertility, is that women who are overweight have a higher likelihood of developing ovulatory issues, which can lead to infertility. For women who are trying to conceive but are overweight, exercise can be a great way to achieve a healthy weight. But for women who are underweight, exercise can be harming their chances of conceiving – women who are underweight also experience lower levels of fertility, and exercise can keep them from achieving a healthy weight.
Using Moderation
So what if you’re a healthy weight and enjoy a regular sweat session? Here there is definitely some good news. Several studies have shown that regular, moderate exercise can actually improve your fertility, so long as it’s done in moderation. Moderate exercise – around 150 minutes of it per week – can help improve ovarian function in women as well as testicular blood flow in men. Just make sure not to overdo it, as more than 3 hours of exercise per day has been shown to reduce fertility.
Staying Active
Whether you want to incorporate exercise into your lifestyle to lose weight, or if you just enjoy hitting the gym, exercise – when done right – can be a great way to improve your fertility. Additionally, living an active lifestyle is a great way to improve overall health and reduce stress levels.
If you’re interested in learning more about exercising while trying to conceive, or would like to schedule a consultation with one of UNC Fertility’s fertility experts, contact us at 919-908-0000 today.