Article: Is it okay to exercise on my most fertile days when I'm trying to get pregnant

Question: Is it okay to exercise on my most fertile days when I'm trying to get pregnant?
Sherman J. Silber: Yes. Ovulation isn't like that magical pass that used to get you out of gym class. If working out is already a part of your lifestyle, there's no reason for you to slam on the brakes when it comes to your fitness routine — even on your fertile days. A little huffing and puffing at your kickboxing class won't disrupt your cycle. If you were a competitive athlete with extremely low body fat, exercise could impair your chances of getting pregnant (some extraordinarily thin female athletes stop ovulating). But this isn't the case with most women.

If you don't work out regularly, start adding more activity into your life, such as a 20- to 30- minute walk every day. By starting and sticking to an exercise program, you'll be rewarded with a healthy body that's fit for pregnancy. Plus, working up a little sweat is a great way to relieve the stress that can get in the way of getting pregnant. Stress can delay ovulation and increase the frequency of uterine contractions, which can prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus.

While it's good to be aware of when you might be ovulating, in my opinion it's more important to relax and try not to obsess about this time of the month. Switching your schedule around may leave you feeling anxious or overwhelmed. That's why it's a good idea to keep on hitting the gym if that's your routine. You might also want to try a yoga class to help you focus on letting go of daily stresses while stretching your muscles.

Re: Is it okay to exercise on my most fertile days when I'm trying to get pregnant

Can exercising a lot (or too vigorously) impair your fertility?

Expert: Sherman Silber, M.D., F.A.C.S [See Biography]

Question: Can exercising a lot (or too vigorously) impair your fertility?
Sherman J. Silber: Vigorous exercise will not impair your fertility at all if it's part of a healthy lifestyle. Some female athletes are extraordinarily thin however, which can cause a condition that prevents the hypothalamus from properly releasing gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GNRH). In turn, this can completely stop ovulation as well as estrogen production. So an extremely underweight woman may be perfectly fertile, in that she has plenty of healthy eggs in her body. But she may be unable to release her eggs through ovulation because she's stopped producing certain hormones. As long as you continue to have your period (a sign that you are ovulating), your fertility should not be impaired.

Vigorous exercise is also fine for men, as long as they don't try to enhance their performance with anabolic steroids, some of which are legally and readily available in health food stores in the form of androstenedione. Androstenedione is a 'natural' anabolic steroid, but that doesn't make it any less potent. Like any other anabolic steroid, it can increase muscle mass dramatically, but it can also shrink the testicles, lower the sperm count, and cause liver disease and early heart attacks.

Re: Article: Is it okay to exercise on my most fertile days when I'm trying to get pregnant

Does using a lubricant inhibit conception?

Expert: Sherman Silber, M.D., F.A.C.S [See Biography]

Question: Does using a lubricant inhibit conception?
Sherman J. Silber: Yes. Such lubricants (for example, K-Y Jelly) are toxic to sperm and interfere with the normal interaction of ejaculated sperm and cervical mucus. Normally, the ******'s own acid secretions kill sperm, but the alkaline quality of the cervical mucus produced by the uterus just before ovulation protects the sperm. The presence of a lubricating jelly prevents the sperm's rapid invasion of the cervical mucus, so they die in the acid environment of the ****** before getting inside the uterus.

If you want to avoid using a lubricant, don't rush while making love — take your time working up to intercourse. Ask your partner to do more touching, hugging, and kissing. Many women say they need 15 to 20 minutes of this to get in the mood. If you still have minimal mucus despite all attempts at foreplay, try using warm water (which is nontoxic to sperm) as a lubricant

Re: Article: Is it okay to exercise on my most fertile days when I'm trying to get pregnant

I will say that my midwife told me no brickram yoga when I was TTC I loved it too, but it is hot yoga and your body temp goes too high and that is no good for TTC or early pregnancy.