Is Lack Of Exercise Stopping You From Getting Pregnant?

When you’re struggling to conceive, there’s an endless list of things that could be causing the problem and plenty of ways to increase your chances. Your first port of call should be to visit the doctor and get some tests done. It might be the case that you or your partner have an underlying issue that needs medicating. However, if you’ve had the tests and they’ve all come back clear, then it is likely to be your lifestyle that is causing you problems. It can be a frustrating position to be in because you feel like you’ll never work out what’s going on.

We all know about the importance of exercise when you’re recovering from childbirth but it’s just as important beforehand. Bad diet and lack of exercise have a massive negative effect on your body and if things aren’t in full working order, it’ll be much harder to conceive. However, you can take it too far the other way and harm your chances of having a baby. Getting the balance right and choosing the best exercises is the key to maximizing your chances of conception.

How Much Exercise Is Too Much?

The unfortunate truth is, there hasn’t been a huge amount of research in this area so there are no definitive answers. What we do know is that a good amount of exercise does increase levels of fertility and reduces the risk of ovulation disorders. The limited studies that have been done suggest that women who get half an hour of exercise a day are more likely to get pregnant. Getting more than an hour of exercise a day could send you in the wrong direction. Start with an hour or less but if you still haven’t conceived after six months, cut down to a little less. Most doctors steer away from giving advice about exercise to women with infertility problems. We don’t know enough about it and the effects tend to vary from person to person, so there are no strict rules to stick to.

There is an exception to this advice; if you’re using IVF services, you need to be very careful about the level of exercise that you are getting. Ovaries can often get larger when you’re taking medication to improve fertility. Exercising can cause the ovaries to twist, and this can be incredibly dangerous. Always seek the advice of your doctor and steer away from doing any exercise at all.

Weight

The main reason that women should be exercising when they are trying to have a baby is so that they can maintain a healthy weight. While the direct effects of exercise on fertility are not that clear, the importance of a healthy weight cannot be disputed. Around a quarter of cases of infertility are caused by being overweight and, although the numbers are a little lower, being underweight also reduces your chances of getting pregnant. Checking your BMI is one way to get an indication of whether your body is ready for a baby, however, it does have his downfalls. It doesn’t take into account the muscle to fat ratio so some women that may be perfectly healthy may have a BMI that says they are overweight. It might be a bit more work, but if you see an exercise physiologist, they’ll be able to give you a more accurate picture of your body.

Stress

High stress levels can have all sorts of physical effects on the body, including reduced fertility rates. It’s vital that you manage your stress properly and one of the best ways to do this is exercise. It reduces tension and releases endorphins. But you do need to be careful. Don’t make the mistake of over working yourself because you’re worried about stress. Keep within the recommended guidelines and don’t exceed yourself. Doing gentle cardio is always good for stress relief but if you overdo it, it might be too much. Yoga is a great way to relieve stress and keep your body healthy without doing anything too strenuous.

Sleep

Not getting enough sleep is one of the worst things that you can do when you’re trying to conceive. Women that don’t get as much sleep are far more likely to develop a hormone imbalance which leads to fertility. Lack of sleep can be caused by lots of different things but exercising is probably the best way to improve your sleep patterns. Getting a little bit of exercise in the morning will make it easier to get restful sleep in the evenings and improve your chances of getting pregnant.

If you’re struggling to conceive and there aren’t any obvious reasons why then exercise could help you out. Just make sure that you don’t overdo it.