Exercise when ttc

[Mummy_13]

Hi ladies

Does anyone have any experience of exercise affecting ttc?

I am a healthy weight (not over weight or under weight) and exercise on average 5, sometimes 6 days a week because I LOVE food so exercise enables me to eat what I want and maintain my weight ... anyway I have been trying to pay attention to my cycles for the past few months (in preparation for ttc in the new year) and I've noticed that my cycles have been varying in length (as well as the days I get EWCM) and I am starting to wonder if a few days of strenuous exercise are putting my cycles out??
I know there is some evidence to suggest that strenuous exercise can affect ovulation but I guess I'm just wondering what 'strenuous' is.

Anyone any experience of this?

Thanks in advance for reading 😊

 

[Donna88]

I'm not sure, like you say different people have different views of what strenuous means :/

 

[candymycandy]

I think strenuous exercise means really high intensity stuff - e.g. Running 10ks, regular boot camps, spin class etc. Think you're safe with normal gym type stuff just go easy? Maybe reduce the days you exercise and see if that has an effect?

 

[Donna88]

I think strenuous exercise means really high intensity stuff - e.g. Running 10ks, regular boot camps, spin class etc. Think you're safe with normal gym type stuff just go easy? Maybe reduce the days you exercise and see if that has an effect?

See this is what I mean though, I don't anymore but I used to run all the time. I ran half marathons every weekend.... at the time, I didn't see that as strenuous or over the top... in fact when someone would say ''oh but you do loads of exercise'' I could easily respond with ''not all the time I only ran 9 miles this weekend''

I wish I could still run like that haha... although it was no good for my knee's

 

[candymycandy]

Oh yeah I completely agree it's quite subjective in terms of what you consider strenuous for your fitness level. But think running is considered high intensity still, so I think the advice would be just to reduce pace/duration etc while ttc. I just remember this from extensive googling (of course) when I was ttc my first!! I wish I could run 1 mile let alone 9 - amazing work!!

 

[Kitana]

I think extreme is for people doing endurance runs, where your body starts to break down muscles to keep finding energy to continue on. Since it will continue trying to find energy for your running, your reproductive organs start to take second place. Your body goes into survival mode and that is when you probably start getting irregular periods. Going to the gym is never as strenuous as extreme running. I actually started getting very regular when I started CrossFit and watching my carb intake.
I think you're fine with exercise! It helps with your pregnancy as well. At least you will be able to continue your exercise routine during pregnancy. It's easier to manage the weight gain too! Good luck Mummy13!!