"Exercise is a great thing for anyone trying to get pregnant," explains Toledo, the chief executive officer at Reproductive Biology Associates.
Exercise can promote the blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, making you feel good. However, the problems arise when you take it to the extreme. Excessive exercise subjects your muscles and joints to constant pounding, and breaks down your body. What's worse, all the energy your body would have dedicated to getting pregnant gets redirected to healing injuries.
Then does that mean it is necessary to slow down your training to get pregnant? Of course not, here are some tips to help you do both.
1. Notice your menstrual cycle.
Your period should arrive every 28 to 30 days on average, however it can range from 21 to 35 days. But if it's shorter or longer than that, this can be some unpleasant conditions. So if you notice a significant change in your menstrual cycles, especially when it coincides with your training schedule, you'd better slow down your training.
2. Get regular drugstore tests.
It's a good idea to monitor your ovulation cycles to make sure your body is working as it should. Those drugstore tests will detect the surge of luteinizing hormone in your urine, which takes place right before ovulation.
3. Take in enough calories.
If a 135-pound female with 20 to 25 percent body fat runs an hour a day at moderately high intensity, she would need to eat a minimum of 1900 to 2000 calories a day to maintain fertility, explains Enette Larson-Meyer, PhD, associate professor of human nutrition at the University of Wyoming. Make sure your diet has adequate levels of fat and protein. And go easy on fiber, which in large amounts can interfere with ovulation.
4. Inquire a fertility specialist.
If you have sexual intercourse regularly but haven't got pregnant for a long time, you should ask a fertility specialist for help. Your doctor can help pinpoint any potential roadblocks and, in some cases, might prescribe medication to help you ovulate.
5. Consider freezing your eggs.
If you want to keep your training schedule instead of a baby at present, you can consider freezing your eggs until you're ready to conceive. The choice is a personal one, but if that's the route you chose, be sure to freeze your eggs when your fertility is at its prime, ideally before turning 35.
Excessive exercise may affect fertility. But if you are preparing your body for baby-making, keeping a moderate exercise schedule may be of great help.
Dr. Lee