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Infertility and Fitness: What’s the Connection?

Infertility is an issue that millions of couples struggle with. Fitness is not a cure for infertility, but there is a relationship between how much exercise and the type of exercise you do and a couple’s ability to conceive. Still the causes of infertility are varied and the treatments are equally varied. Exercise helps couples struggling with infertility because it can help lower their stress and boost their overall health. While it cannot resolve the infertility issues — there are some things that can help both men and women.

For Men:

Avoid wearing tight fitting shorts or briefs. When men wear these whether they are working out or hanging out, it can raise the temperature around their genitals and negatively impact the ability to become pregnant. Go for boxers or loose fitting shorts and avoid the bike shorts and tight lycra knits.

If you’re a cycler, it’s time to take a break from cycling. Limit the amount of time you spend cycling or cut it out all together. This is really a time where spending time on the bike is not helpful to you. The same can be said for equestrian sports, take a break from how much time you spend in the saddle.

If you are a fan of hot yoga, no more hot yoga classes. You can keep doing yoga, just do it in a cooler room (somewhere around 70 to 72 degrees). Yoga is a great way to help you relax and this is a huge plus for couples coping with infertility. The exercise isn’t the issue, the temperature is.

For Women:

For women, the recommendations are a bit different. If you work out for several hours a day (i.e. more than 1) – it may be time to cut back for a while. Consult with your physician about the exercise routine you follow.

Yoga and pilates are a great choice for women who are coping with infertility issues. They are a great way to tone up, while also reducing the mental and physical stress associated with infertility issues.

You can also check out a national organization called RESOLVE. This is a support group that provides local chapters and meetings throughout the states and provides you with emotional support.

Have you ever coped with infertility and found some relief through exercise and fitness?

This entry was posted in Fitness Programs and tagged , , , , by Heather Long. Bookmark the permalink.

About Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago. They have a beautiful daughter who just turned five years old. She is learning to read and preparing for kindergarten in the fall. An author of more than 300 articles and 500+ web copy pieces, Heather has also written three books as a ghostwriter. Empty Canoe Publishing accepted a novel of her own. A former horse breeder, Heather used to get most of her exercise outside. In late 2004, early 2005 Heather started studying fitness full time in order to get herself back into shape. Heather worked with a personal trainer for six months and works out regularly. She enjoys shaking up her routine and checking out new exercises. Her current favorites are the treadmill (she walks up to 90 minutes daily) and doing yoga for stretching. She also performs strength training two to three times a week. Her goals include performing in a marathon such as the Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness or Team in Training for Lymphoma research. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience through the fitness and marriage blogs.