Training to get pregnant: physical activity fights infertility

After introducing physical activity into her routine, the lawyer was able to get pregnant

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It is now well established that, to improve reproductive health, it is advisable to follow a healthy diet, avoid alcohol consumption and smoking and fight against a sedentary lifestyle. However, guidelines on the impact of exercise and physical activity levels on fertility and the likelihood of conception lack clarity.

A recent review study of the F&S reports, a publication of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, indicated that women can continue their exercise regimen while trying to conceive, as long as they compensate for the energy deficit by increasing caloric intake; have also shown that vigorous levels of aerobic exercise improve the chances of conception for women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

“Several other studies have already reported that those who practice physical activity, provided it is not totally exhausting, do not use steroids and the diet is correct, experience numerous benefits, with a greater chance of conceiving a child,” he underlines. Rodrigo Rosaspecialist in human reproduction and clinical director of the Mater Prime clinic in São Paulo.

“Besides natural causes and aging, we know that there is an impact of modern life and bad lifestyle habits on the causes of infertility. Physical inactivity and obesity, for example, also make it very difficult to conceive a child ”, he adds.

The case of Tatiana Pavan

The lawyer Tatiana Pavan, 34, and her husband, the entrepreneur Alex Soares Marques, 38, are well aware of this. After 3 years of trying to conceive, in 2018, the couple suffered a miscarriage in the eighth week. In May 2019 they tried IVF and failed to get pregnant, but guided by Rodrigo Rosa, they added physical activity to their routine, coupled with changes in their lifestyle and, in September of the same year, they you manage to get pregnant , of course, with João Pedro, born in June 2020. And in his case the problem was not the body weight.

“I am considered a thin person, but I was very sedentary; I ate junk food, didn’t gain weight, and didn’t exercise. He really didn’t like her, she made it very clear. My husband was still exercising a few years before we tried to get pregnant, but as we went through this difficult process we were under a lot of stress and he didn’t exercise at all,” says Tatiana.

With the guidance of the doctor, habits changed: “I used to go to the gym and think: ‘My God, if I run 5 more minutes I could have my baby’. I cried a lot about it, but having this exercise routine made me want to hit the gym. We have sent the photos to Dr. Rodrigo and we have always had his encouragement. I also stopped overindulging in carbs, pizza, burgers, because I thought if I ate them, it would be bad for my body. We will make a new fertilization in October; from May to October we went to the gym practically every day of the week. And in September we managed to get pregnant naturally, without the need for fertilization,” explains Tatiana.

regular exercise regimen

In the review study, the researchers brought data to recommend that women who are trying to conceive can continue their regular exercise regimen if they balance their energy expenditure by increasing calorie intake.

“Among women with polycystic ovary syndrome, resistance training and vigorous levels of aerobic exercise have been associated with reproductive benefits,” says the doctor.

According to the study, recommendations should include a sustained exercise regimen for long periods. The doctor explains that the ideal is that physical activity is carried out at least three times a week, about 150 minutes.

“The ideal physical activity to improve fertility is of medium intensity. In some cases, such as in cases of PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), it is possible to perform the HIIT mode, but the ideal is moderate physical activity. For men, any physical activity is allowed, with the exception of high intensity or frequency cycling, which can worsen sperm production and increase sperm DNA fragmentation”, underlines the expert.

The doctor points out that men who participated in IVF programs and regularly engaged in moderate to vigorous exercise had higher sperm concentrations than less active men.

“These are important data, because the lifestyle of both men and women is important for the success of fertilization. It is vitally important that fertility doctors counsel patients on lifestyle-related modifiable risk factors.”

Weight control

One of the great fertility benefits of exercise is better weight control. According to the doctor, in addition to promoting the onset of diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, which can cause problems during pregnancy, obesity also has a direct influence on fertility.

In the case of aerobics, the doctor points out that running is linked to a greater production of serotonin, the hormone of pleasure, and at the same time allows the modulation of stress, through the reduction of cortisol levels.

“High levels of stress can reduce a couple’s chances of getting pregnant. This is because stress causes physiological processes that can interfere with the production of important reproductive hormones, as well as favoring the appearance of inflammatory proteins in men that compromise the quality of sperm,” explains the expert.

«Our body is a machine that wastes energy, but when this does not happen we can have insomnia problems, which are also harmful to fertility. Sleep is essential for the proper functioning of the pituitary gland, a gland in the brain responsible for producing a number of hormones, including those responsible for stimulating the ovaries and testicles. Therefore, when the rest period is short or of poor quality, this gland does not function as it should, which consequently interferes with fertility.”

The advantage is also mental

The doctor also says that there is a mental benefit when the patient begins to practice physical activity and exceed their limits.

“This ends up becoming a parameter of his life and, in general, he manages to have the same determination in eating and in abandoning addictions such as smoking and alcohol, which also negatively interfere with fertility,” says the doctor.

However, the expert warns: everything in excess is bad, and this also applies to physical activity.

“Excess physical exercise, overtraining, also compromises the functioning of the pituitary gland and, consequently, the levels of hormones involved in fertility. Additionally, many people who engage in strenuous physical activity without adequate recovery resort to drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone as a means of accelerating muscle mass gain, which can cause impotence and loss of sexual appetite in men, as well as hormonal imbalances and difficulty in physical activity. growth of the endometrium in women, which reduces the chances of pregnancy and increases the risk of miscarriage,” emphasizes the doctor.

“If the couple realizes that they are having difficulty getting pregnant, it is important that both consult a specialized doctor, as only he will be able to carry out an evaluation and identify the real cause of the problem, thus recommending the appropriate treatment or, when The cause of infertility it is not reversible, it is enough to resort to assisted reproduction methods”, concludes Rodrigo Rosa.

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Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.