Are you too healthy to conceive?

When a couple is struggling with conception issues, both partners need to do a thorough examination of their lifestyles. Things like smoking, diet and alcohol consumption can affect the fertility of both men and women and improving these issues can make a big difference when it comes to starting a family. But what if you’re already an exceptionally fit woman and are still having problems conceiving? You may want to consider the possibility that you are too healthy.

The hormone balance in a woman’s body is a delicate thing. Her ovulation and monthly cycles are sometimes so precarious that a more than usually stressful month can throw them off. When trying to conceive, it serves a woman well to try to reduce her stress level by incorporating some physical activity into her daily routine. Unfortunately, this is a situation where there most definitely can be too much of a good thing. Over exercise can affect a woman’s ovulation cycle resulting in irregular, skipped and sometimes even non existent periods. Medically known as amenorrhea, this condition makes conception extremely difficult and in the long run can even contribute to severe osteoporosis.

In essence, the more you exercise, the more your cycle is affected. When you engage in high intensity activity, your body releases opioids, otherwise known as endorphins. This ‘feel good’ chemical creates the runner’s high that so many fitness enthusiasts are addicted to. However, this same chemical also suppresses the pituitary gland and thereby alters the production of hormones necessary for ovulation. Although high intensity exercise can give you an emotional boost and help you slide into your size five jeans, having too little body fat is another of the factors in infertility. Thirty percent of a woman’s estrogen production happens in her fat cells and if there simply isn’t enough, she’s going to have a struggle to become pregnant. Her body just won’t support a baby.

If you are an avid exerciser and are noticing your periods are affected, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. He or she may recommend cutting your routine back to three or less hours a week and after calculating your body mass index, may even suggest gaining some weight.

Allow your body to rest and create the ideal environment for your growing baby. It may take some time to get your body back into a regular cycle. Try to relax. There is no reason why you can’t continue your hunt for endorphins after you have delivered a healthy baby and given yourself time to heal. Becoming a parent generally means giving up a lot of control and pregnancy is just the first step.