CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

Can You Be Too Fit to Get Pregnant?

Here's how you can make your workout regimen increase your fertility odds.
save article
profile picture of Anisa Arsenault
By Anisa Arsenault, Associate Editor
Updated March 2, 2017
Hero Image
Image: Shutterstock

If you’re trying to conceive, your doctor has probably given you the classic spiel: take folic acid; cut back on drinking; exercise. The first two suggestions are generally keepers, but what about exercising? Could it be that regular, intense workouts are actually be harming your chances at getting pregnant?

Yes, and no. 6 percent of infertility cases are the result of obesity. At the same time, however, another 6 percent are the result of being underweight. While most people who actively work out have the 20 percent body fat necessary to avoid being underweight, not all serious athletes do. Even those who meet the mark for normal weight often have the same issues with infertility. Long distance runners, for example, can put just enough stress on their bodies to mess up their menstural cycles — the result of which is an out-of-whack ovulation schedule. By pushing their bodies to the limit, athletes like marathon runners, dancers or gymnasts are more likely to disrupt bodily hormonal balances and their pregnancy chances.

So, does this mean you can skip the gym? Probably not. Don’t expect your doctor to give you a free pass to avoid working out while you’re trying to conceive. Dr. Andrew Toledo, CEO at Repoductive Biology Associates, says, ““Exercise is a great thing for anyone trying to get pregnant. It improves blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, and makes you feel good.”

Where do problems begin, then? “The problems arise when you take it to the extreme,” Dr. Toledo continues, "You’re subjecting your muscles and joints to constant pounding, and the body starts to break down.” Intense workouts, like running a marathon or becoming the next Iron Woman, cause this break down. Your weekly yoga session doesn’t.

Related Video

In case you need more evidence, a recent study, published in Human Reproduction, surveyed nearly 4,000 women under the age of 45 and found a definite link between fertility and exercise. Women who were active most days of the week were three times more likely to have issues with infertility than their inactive counterparts. Furthermore, those who worked out to the point of exhaustion were twice as likely to have trouble getting pregnant as those who engaged in less taxing exercise. Similarly, men who overexercise can have strangely shaped or not enough sperm, which impacts fertility, as well.

We’re not telling you to give up your daily workout — just suggesting that you take some easy precautions to make sure you aren’t messing with your own fertility. First, track your menstural cycle every single month. A normal cycle can be anywhere from 21 to 35 days; if yours lands outside that range, take a trip to your doctor to check things out. In addition, if you’re a serious athlete, make sure that you’re eating enough calories per day (and scale back on fiber, which can prevent ovulation if eaten in large amounts).

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

mike the situation and wife lauren sorrentino with their babies at home
Mike 'the Situation' and His Wife Lauren Are Expecting Baby No. 3
By Wyndi Kappes
Mykayla Skinner with Silver Medal
Olympic Gymnast MyKayla Skinner Welcomes Her First Baby
By Wyndi Kappes
mother putting baby into bare crib for safe sleep
New Report Reveals Nursery Items as Significant Threat to Safe Sleep
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
US actor Josh Duhamel (L) and his wife US model Audra Mari pose during a photocall for the Golden Nymph Awards ceremony of the 62nd Monte-Carlo Television Festival in the principalty of Monaco on June 20, 2023
Josh Duhamel’s Son Axl Has Adorable Reaction to New Big Brother Role
By Wyndi Kappes
jordan and annie spieth with their son
Pro Golfer Jordan Spieth and Annie Spieth Welcome Baby No. 2
By Wyndi Kappes
wrapped kraft singles american cheese recall
Why Over 83,000 Cases of Kraft Singles Have Been Recalled
By Wyndi Kappes
ms rachel stands up to body shamer
Ms. Rachel Stands Up to Body Shamers in New Video
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
bodily pregnancy kits
Bodily Launches Pregnancy Kits Packed With Advice and Essentials
By Wyndi Kappes
Chanel Iman and Davon Godchaux pregnancy photoshoot
Chanel Iman and Patriots' Davon Godchaux’s Baby Girl Has Arrived
By Wyndi Kappes
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Mariah Riddlesprigger welcome third baby 2023
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Mariah Riddlesprigger Welcome Third Baby
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky arrive for the world premiere of Marvel Studios' "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky Share First Photo as Family of Four
By Wyndi Kappes
Khloé Kardashian, Penelope Disick, Kim Kardashian, North West and Kris Jenner attend the "RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR" at SoFi Stadium on September 04, 2023 in Inglewood, California.
These Are 2023’s Most Influential Celebrity Parents
By Wyndi Kappes
happy family walking in city
These Top 15 Family-Friendly Cities Offer Amazing Outdoor Spaces
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
chuckle and roar water bead activity kits recall 2023
Popular Water Bead Activity Kit Sold at Target Has Been Recalled
By Wyndi Kappes
elyse and jonas myers welcome their second baby
Comedian Elyse Myers and Jonas Myers Welcome Baby No. 2
By Wyndi Kappes
mother and baby crawling on floor at home
It’s Baby Safety Month: Here Are All the Sales You Don’t Wanna Miss
By Wyndi Kappes
dad strapping baby into rocker
CPSC Members Propose New Safety Rules for Baby Rockers After Deaths
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Taylor Neisen and Liev Schreiber attend Rufus Wainwright 50th Birthday Celebration at The Montauk Point Lighthouse on July 13, 2023 in Montauk, New York.
Liev Schreiber and Taylor Neisen Welcome Baby Girl
By Wyndi Kappes
young woman asleep in bed at night
Viral Video Explains Why Protected Sleep Is Important for New Moms
By Wyndi Kappes
close up of button batteries
CPSC Enacts New Safety Standards to Protect Kids From Button Batteries
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List