How important is exercise on a scale of 1 (lowest importance) to 10 (highest importance)?
Exercise is a vital addition to fertility therapy. The greatest improvement in fertility with exercise is for those patients who have ovulatory dysfunction as a primary diagnosis. In this population of patients, I would say exercise is a 10 and would definitely recommend running, spinning or other high-impact aerobic activities that burn calories and aid in weight loss. For all others, I would say that exercise is a 7, a vital part of life in achieving health and wellness, says Feinberg. However, be cautious. Excessive exercise can be associated with the hypothalamic type of anovulation [not ovulating]. Runners, for instance, have a lower tendency to have regular ovulation. I tell patients who ovulate on a regular basis not to intensify their exercise routine if they desire fertility, adds Chung. What are some other important factors that influence fertility? Severe stress is clearly detrimental to fertility. Stress has been associated with anovulation and irregular menses, says Pak. I
