Exercise & Fertility

Studies have shown that among women, increased physical activity and decreased sedentary behaviour may improve fertility through the maintenance of body weight & supporting hormone levels necessary for increased likelihood of conception.

On the flip side, high levels of physical activity can inhibit ovulation, leading to decreased fertility. It is therefore important to find the sweet spot through incorporating a mix of both high and low intensity exercise, and tailoring your exercise habits in alignment with where you are in your cycle.

Did you know that as our hormones fluctuate and change throughout our cycle, so should our exercise? Planning our exercise around the different phases of our cycle helps to support fluctuating hormone levels, and helps us to get the most out of our cycle.
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MENSTRUAL PHASE 〰️ we want to focus on slowing down and turning inward during this phase, giving your body the slowness and rest it is craving. Enjoy moving your body gently through exercise such as walking, stretching, yoga and Pilates.
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FOLLICULAR PHASE 〰️ increased hormone levels mean increased energy in our follicular phase, therefore it is the time to include more high intensity exercise to harness this increased energy.
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OVULATION 〰️ our ovulation phase is the time when we tend to feel more confident as it is the time where we are the most fertile, and our oestrogen and testosterone are at their peak. Make the most of the increased energy during this phase by incorporating HIIT, running or other cardio based exercise.
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LUTEAL PHASE 〰️ energy is naturally lower during this phase as hormone levels start to drop, therefore exercise during this time should be light and slow, such as walking or yoga.