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Does Excessive Exercise Cause Infertility?

May 26, 2011 | By Eric Brown

While everyone knows that exercise is good for you, there can be too much of a good thing. When exercise is pushed to the point where the female reproductive cycle stops, or amenorrhoea, it is difficult --- if not impossible --- to conceive a child. Long-term dieting or exercise that lowers hormonal levels may decrease fertility in men and women. Consult your physician before beginning any diet or exercise program.

Amenorrhoea

Amenorrhea is when a women of normal reproductive age does not experience a menstrual cycle for three months or more. This occurs in athletes and those that indulge in excessive exercise, largely because the caloric intake is insufficient to support your activity level. Long-term excessive exercise combined with not enough food is a common cause of amenorrhea. If you cannot reduce your training volume, you need to increase your caloric intake if you wish to conceive.

General Effects of Exercise On Hormones

Excessive exercise can deplete many hormones, and raise others. Long-term intense exercise raises adrenaline levels while depressing leptin levels. Adrenaline will eat away at stored sugar, or glycogen, as well as fat stores. While normally this is a good thing for those exercising, if your body fat gets too low, your menstrual cycle will cease. When your leptin levels decrease, your appetite may decrease as well, which can result in disordered eating or simply not eating enough to support your reproductive cycle.

Male Fertility Issues

The most common effect men experience with respect to fertility and exercise is diminished sperm count. Long-term exhaustive exercise can lower sperm count and the potential for reproduction. Heavy resistance training does not exhibit this effect. Heavy resistance training can actually increase the production of testosterone, which can exhibit a secondary effect on other hormones that contribute to fertility in men. If you are a man and wish to father a child, plan your training accordingly.

Diet

Diet plays a role in fertility in both sexes, and many of the hormones that are responsible for reproductive health are based on your intake of dietary sterols. This is particularly true of men. A long-term, low-fat diet will depress testosterone levels and many other hormones. These hormones are not generated exclusively within the body, they are converted from forms of cholesterol. A diet of at least 20 percent fat if not closer to 35 percent may be optimal for those wishing to conceive. This will also help offset the caloric demands of exercise.

References

Article reviewed by Jessica Lyons Last updated on: May 26, 2011

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