Is It Safe To Exercise When Trying To Conceive?

A good sweat is a cure-all to many of life's woes. But you might wonder is it safe to exercise when trying to conceive? The bottom line, according to The Bump, is that every woman is different, and it's best to check with your physician about the link between your fertility and your exercise regime. When you run your exercise routine by your doctor, be sure to review any pre-existing conditions, like if you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). According to Parents, women with PCOS can see increased fertility with exercise.

If you have no pre-existing health conditions, however, you want to play it safe at the gym when trying to conceive. Although you want to stay healthy and exercise moderately, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) suggested making wise choices when it comes to your pre-pregnancy fitness routine.

Alice D. Domar, executive director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health at Boston IVF and co-author of Conquering Infertility told Fit Pregnancy that vigorous exercise is not recommended for women who are trying to conceive. She suggested you exercise enough so that your body mass index is between 24 and 30, in order to optimize fertility. You can calculate your body mass index based on your height and weight, and a handy guide from the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Additionally, ACOG noted that you want to avoid any type of exercise where you can injure your abdominal areas, even before you know you're pregnant. So, rule out horseback riding, gymnastics, downhill skiing, contact sports, and scuba diving. You don't want to miscarry before you even know you're pregnant, which makes total sense.

Ideal exercise choices include walking and swimming because they're low-impact and aerobic at the same time. These routines are also recommended when you do conceive, because they're easy on your body. It's also not recommended that you start any new exercise routine during pregnancy, but stick to low-impact sports that get you moving without the risk of injury.