How does your fitness routine affect your fertility?
Infertility is one of the most frustrating experiences a couple can go through together. It rattles confidence on a very basic level, leaving both partners with a lot of self doubt and disappointment. It is estimated that one in eight couples will experience some struggle with conception in their life time. If you and your partner are in such a situation, there is no need to despair. Thankfully, there are many things that can be done to increase chances of starting a family; some as simple as starting a healthy fitness routine.
Your first step when attacking your infertility problems should be a visit to your doctor. After the appropriate tests to rule out any physiological issues, you may then be advised to look into making some lifestyle changes. Seeing a nutritionist or registered dietician is a very good way to begin. There are so many different fad diets and myths around exercise that it can be hard to devise a program on your own. A nutritionist or dietician can help you to cut to the chase of what will be healthiest for you and your new family.
Diet can have a profound affect on your hormones. Your nutritionist may recommend making some significant dietary changes such as cutting out sugar and processed foods entirely from your diet. They may also suggest dietary supplements such as a good multi vitamin or zinc, which is shown to increase fertility in both men and women. It may be difficult at first to give up your daily bag of chips, but knowing it may help you to start a family of your own will no doubt be motivation enough.
If you are already exercising, the nutritionist may decide that you need to slow down. Women’s fertility can be affected by over exertion as the endorphins created interfere with her monthly cycles. There is no need for you to give up your favorite sport; you may simply have to enjoy it at a lower intensity. Running can becoming jogging, spinning can become cycling and so on…Your body needs rest to create the optimum environment for conception. . Daily exercise when done at a sensible intensity can help to regulate ovulation and increase your sex drive – a powerful conception combination!