Exercise and Fertility

Key Principles:

• Hormonal Regulation: Regular, moderate exercise helps regulate insulin sensitivity. High insulin levels can disrupt ovulation in women and testosterone production in men. By improving how your body uses insulin, exercise supports a healthy hormonal environment for conception.

• Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) is one of the most impactful non-medical factors in fertility. For women, excess adipose tissue can lead to elevated estrogen levels, disrupting ovulation. For men, obesity is linked to lower testosterone and increased scrotal temperatures, both of which impair sperm production. Exercise is a primary tool for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.

• Stress Reduction: The psychological stress of fertility journeys is significant. Exercise is a powerful antidote, reducing cortisol levels and promoting a sense of well-being. Lower stress levels can positively influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, the crucial system that governs reproduction.

• Inflammation & Blood Flow: Moderate activity reduces systemic inflammation and improves circulation, ensuring robust blood flow to the reproductive organs. This is vital for ovarian function and for creating a healthy uterine lining in the intended mother or gestational carrier. For men, it supports the testicular environment for sperm production.

The Critical Caveat: Overtraining
Intense, prolonged endurance exercise (e.g., marathon training, high-intensity cross-fit) can be counterproductive. It places significant stress on the body, potentially leading to:

• In Women: Menstrual cycle disruption, anovulation (lack of ovulation), or even amenorrhea (absence of periods) due to suppressed hypothalamic function.

• In Men: Elevated scrotal temperature and increased oxidative stress, which can damage sperm DNA.