Many people wonder if exercise will decrease, or increase, fertility having read or heard conflicting information. So what is the real answer? Exercise can both positively and negatively impact fertility, depending on the circumstances.

Exercise and  Decreased Fertility in Women

Weight is an important factor in fertility in women. With society’s increased acceptance of the super thin physique, there has been an increase in women experiencing fertility problems. For women who are excessively thin, exercise can actually decrease the chances of becoming pregnant. It is necessary to have some body fat in order to produce estrogen, which the body needs for the regulation of ovulation. Too little body fat can cause the body to ovulate irregularly, or cease ovulation altogether.

Over Exercise and Male Infertility

Occasionally, exercise can also negatively impact male fertility. For men with a low sperm count, exercise should be given special consideration. Sperm live most optimally at normal body temperature. With exercise, the body temperature typically rises, which can cause the sperm to die, lowering sperm count. It has also been found that excessively thin males have a lower sperm count.

Exercise and Increased Fertility

If a woman is over weight, exercise can lead to weight loss which will increase fertility. Extra body fat leads to increased estrogen which can hinder ovulation. Generally, a healthy lifestyle which includes a healthy diet and moderate exercise is widely accepted as positive factors in increased fertility in both men and women. Regular Exercise is known to be beneficial in these ways:

• Exercise is known to decrease stress, which can be a consideration in infertility. many people experience an increase in fertility with stress deduction techniques, such as exercise.
• Regular exercise can help regulate hormones and increase circulation.

Are there Specific Exercises to Increase Fertility?

Though many studies, both formal and informal, have been done on the subject, the jury is still out on specifically which exercises may increase fertility most dramatically. While all moderate exercise is know to be of positive benefit in most people, some may increase the chances a bit more. Moderate exercises to increase fertility include:

• Walking regularly is low impact and can help in weight loss and weight maintenance.
• Swimming is another great choice in moderate exercise.
• Golf
• Cycling is low impact and aerobic
• Yoga. Many yoga poses are thought to be very helpful in increasing fertility by increasing the circulation and blood flow to relevant parts of the body. However, there is even some debate as to which poses are most beneficial. The belief and acceptance of yoga’s positive impact on fertility is so widely held that many fertility treatment centers also include Yoga classes as part of their auxiliary programs.

Before beginning any exercise program, it is important to talk with your physician. An online support group would also have valuable information on area exercise classes as well as personal experiences as what exercises were helpful in increasing fertility.

Receiving a diagnosis of fertility problems can be difficult to understand and accept for some time. It may need some time to fully sink in before you are able to get proactive, ask good questions and seek out every option. Unfortunately, the time you are ready to ask questions may not coincide with prescheduled and short doctor appointments. Even when so much hangs on getting the information, it is impossible to get it done in a few short appointments.

So where can you go to get the information you need which may lead to the completion of your family? Divide and conquer! Many of the questions can be sorted either clinical or practical and personal. To get the best infertility help, go to the source.

Clinical Infertility Help

Infertility is complex in every way, from diagnosis to treatment. It is also expensive. So it makes sense to know as much as you can to make informed decisions right from the start. To begin getting clinical questions answered, it is necessary to gather as much information as you can from those in the field. These simple points can help get the best infertility help:

• As your doctor to write down the diagnosis
• Research it online at reputable medical sites and in online medical journals -noting treatment options and medications
• Cross reference any possible misdiagnosis
• Come back to your doctor with a list of specific questions

Practical Infertility Help

Another one of the best places to find infertility help is through support groups. Local support groups can offer a wealth of information on what help  is available locally, the most successful fertility treatment centers as well as personal support. Online, there are many support groups available tailored to your specific diagnosis, women or men only and general groups. The advantages of these groups are numerous and invaluable. In online groups you can find help for issues you may be having, find out what lies ahead, get person objective opinions and support from those who understand personally. Many of the advantages include:

• The opportunity to be somewhat anonymous and vent your feelings openly and honestly
• Get real infertility help and information of treatments, how they feel, how much they cost, and side effects before you undergo them
• Get information that your doctor may not yet have
• Compare treatment plans
• Find out about what your partner may be feeling through the experience of others
• How to deal with the practical things like baby showers for friends, family and coworkers
• How to answer all of the questions from friends and family
• Dealing with emotions, your own and your partner’s
• Caring individuals that know how you feel and just listen
• Groups for just men or women allow you to ask questions and vent without feeling like you are being monitored, corrected or judged

We are very fortunate to live in an age of information where nearly all that we want to know is right at or finger tips. With a little effort, information on infertility can be found in many places, and can be very valuable in your journey.