Exercise and Pregnancy: Can Fitness Increase Your Fertility?

Being active before and during pregnancy has so many fertility benefits for women and health benefits for newborn babies. In this post, we’ve summarized a few key issues on exercise and fertility.

Moderate exercise is key.

If you’re a woman who wants to get pregnant, you’ll definitely boost your chances if you make moderate exercise a regular routine. Women who are underweight or overweight may have more trouble conceiving. If you’re currently not exercising much at all and you want to get pregnant, you can start gradually building up your level of activity.

Moderate exercise during pregnancy can even lower the chances of gestational diabetes and other complications while also reducing the risk of having a C-section. It will also help your body get stronger and get prepared for labor—an incredibly challenging exercise all on its own!

Moderate levels of exercise will help with getting pregnant, carrying the baby to term, and helping ensure better health for the newborn baby. If you’re active, your baby will experience immediate and long-term health benefits. Studies have shown that babies born to mothers who were active during pregnancy have less body fat and better heart health.

Optimal exercises.

We’ve already established that moderate exercise is beneficial to fertility. What are some examples of good workouts for hopeful mommies?
• Walking
• Swimming
• Yoga
• Cleaning
• Gardening

As for more vigorous exercise? Studies have shown that vigorous exercise for women who are normal weight or underweight can decrease fertility. If you have a low or even healthy BMI, vigorous exercise may strain your body to the point of affecting your periods—and irregular periods may lead to infertility. For most women, however, there is no effect on fertility even with intense exercise.

For women who are obese, vigorous exercise may also help with fertility. Examples of vigorous exercise include:

• Jogging
• Running
• Tennis
• Aerobics

Our fertility specialists can help you explore how exercise and how other factors in your life will affect your fertility. Then, we can assist with developing the best treatment plan for your fertility journey. If you’re ready to learn more about fertility treatments at the Alabama Center for Reproductive Medicine-Alabama, schedule an in-person, phone, or telemedicine appointment by calling 205-307-0484.