What is too much?

jklein15 · December 2011

I've heard that too much exercise can affect fertility. But what is considered "too much?"

I go to the gym Monday-Fridays and do a mix: cardio kickboxing Mondays; treadmill on Tuesdays & Thursdays (fast walking, alternating between low & high incline); elliptical and strength training on Wednesdays & Fridays.

I am not doing triathlons or anything serious, but I wonder if my routine could be affecting my fertility. We've been TTC for over 8 months (I am 31) and have had no success...

Also, this may be a stupid question, but do crunches and/or strong ab muscles make any difference in getting pregnant/pregnancy? I feel like they wouldn't, but you never know!

daisysle · December 2011

I was running 50+ mile a week, lifting weights and doing core 3-4 x's per week. I've been running marathons, an ultra, half marathons, etc... DH & I had one "oops" and here I am, 13+ weeks pregnant. Big Smile

I do not think your exercise regimen has anything to do with your trouble trying to concieve. Did you go off BC pills just 8 months ago when you first start trying? If so, your body could still be adjusting from that change.

Brit's Luna154 · December 2011

I have the same question as Daisy. It can take a while for your body to get back to normal after you go off of BC. About 8 months after I went off of BC I talked to my doctor because my cycle was still not back to normal and I was worried about it. It turns out that I was a few weeks pregnant when I finally went to talk to her about it, I just didn't know it yet. I was also running pretty high mileage at that point.

With that said, the amount of exercise that is too much will vary from person to person, but it doesn't sound like yours is excessive to me.

The ab question: I think that having strong ab muscles kept my stomach from looking huge for quite a few months. I did not show much until about 30 weeks.

argonne · December 2011

I was training for an Ironman when I got pregnant with DS. I was running 35-45 miles/week, cycling 300+ miles/week and swimming 10K/week. I was also doing some lifting/ab work. I got pregnant my second cycle trying.

Have you tried charting to make sure you're ovulating or having well timed sex? Most ladies on here use fertility friend. It's free and you can sign up by clicking on my ticker in my siggy. Charting BBT is the only way to confirm ovulation besides an ultrasound.

DonsJMUBride · December 2011

I think exercise actually increases the chances of getting pregnant because your healthy. Your schedule doesnt seem "out of control" I think you should be fine continuing your routine. I agree that you should talk to your dr. as I'm sure it has to do with being on the pill.

mariahcade · December 2011

It's an old myth...when we exercise a lot, beta endorphins are released...endorphin means "Endogenous" (of the body or natural), "Morphine" which is an opioid drug. It's what gives us that runners high or that feeling of nirvana after a great workout. People used to think that those endorphins reduced our chances of conception. They don't. As another poster said, exercise usually increases chances of conception because circulation, waste removal from cells, and hormone production are both improved and regular with exercise.

What can happen when our body fat percentage drops too low is amenorrhea. Amenorrhea is the absense of a period. It just stops for awhile altogether. A lot of people think you can't get pregnant w/ amenorrhea, but that isn't always the case.

Crunches and strong ab muscles make sex better and labor easier. They have no bearing on getting pregnant.

Your routine doesn't sound excessive - 5 days a week combining cardio w/ strength training is not out of the ordinary. Keep it up, do those kegels, and be a sexy mama in the bedroom...tequila helps. If you haven't gotten pregnant w/ in 6 months of trying, go see your OBGYN.

MamatoA2010 · December 2011

I think as long as you have regular cycles and are getting a monthly period you should be able to get pregnant eventually. I was at the higher end of a normal weight when I got pregnant with DD and got pregnant in 2 months.

KWood2011 · December 2011

I have to disagree with some of the ladies above that exercise doesnt affect fertility. My Sis is going to an RE and he told her cardio can cause major problems with fertility. Maybe its just with IVF but I dont think so. This may not be the same with all women but for sure with some. I work out with weights and cardio 5/ 6 days a week for quite a few years now. My body fat was 12% my periods were very irregular. I went as long as 60 day cyles! Anyways I ate so clean and was so consistant on exercise that it started to mess with my cycles. This is not the same with all women and everyones body is different. When we decided to ttc I backed off my workout schedule to less days and put a little more healthy fat back in my diet. With the help of provera starting my first cycle again, I had a few regular periods and here I am

NewlyWeds13 · December 2011

If you are exercising enough to cause your periods to skip (exercise induced amenorhea) then yes, it can impact fertility.

What you are describing would not normally cause this.

I had this when I was a competitive gynmast in college (ie- was working out at the gym 3-5 hours a day, plus 1 hour of cardio per day, + on a pretty strict clean diet)... i was about 8% body fat. During that time, I did not have any periods at all and yes, that could have impacted my fertility if i was still doing that. I am now in my early 40s and only run 3-4 days a week (total of about 25 miles a week), take 1 pilates class and 1 yoga class and am about 20% body fat. My periods are regular and have a healthy 17 month old son.

Talk to your doctor-- but if you are having regular periods, you should not have much to worry about.

sisterinlaw2B · December 2011

Every woman is different (as these replies clearly show). If you are having regular periods, then I agree, your exercise is likely not affecting your fertility, although there have been some studies showing luteal phase defect even in recreational runners, which could affect your chances of getting pregnant.

As a college athlete, I had regular periods despite intensive exercise, probably because I had a normal body fat.

When TTC, I had hypothalamic amenorrhea (no period at all for 10 months after stopping BC pills). My body fat was really low (9.5% by caliper and bioimpedence scale) even though my BMI was normal (133lbs at 5'7"). I was running about 50 miles a week, biking 5 days a week at lunch, and doing P90X with my husband in the evenings.

It took me about 9 months of gaining weight (12lbs total), limiting exercise (to 3 30 minute runs per week), and taking Clomid to ovulate. I got pregnant the first time I ovulated.

I'm hoping not to have this much trouble next time I want to get pregnant, so I'll try to stay at a healthier weight with more moderate exercise next time around.

Ardmhs83 · December 2011

I would say the only time exercising too much could affect your fertility is if you stop getting your period. That happened to me...I lost too much weight and didn't get my period for 3 months. Had to slow it down a bit and I got pregnant right away. Check to make sure your body fat isn't too low.

And doing abs isn't going to keep you from getting pregnant.

jklein15 · January 2012

Wow! Thanks everyone for the great suggestions and thoughts!

I went off the period about 1 year ago and my periods took a few cycles to normalize, but my cycle is now pretty normal (not exactly 28 days, but averages to it). We started trying about 3 months after I went off BC.

I am a Lifetime WeightWatcher, so although I have lost weight, I keep it under control and know I am at a healthy weight.

I've been easing off my workouts a bit - just not pushing myself as hard, but still getting in a good workout.

Thanks again!

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