There’s nothing wrong with working up a good sweat, eating healthy foods and taking care of your body.  But sometimes too much of a good thing can lead to fertility issues.

If you’re a recreational athlete who has whittled her body fat down too far, you may be compromising your ability to conceive naturally.  Typically when a woman’s body fat percentage dips below approximately 18% (some sources go a little lower), periods typically cease or become highly irregular due to dropping estrogen levels.  And that, in turn, leads to fertility problems.

Though this doesn’t mean that you have to drastically change your exercise regimen, it may mean that you have to be more conscious of the types of foods you’re eating, especially if your body fat percentage is very low.  Even adding 100 calories per day and cutting back your intense exercise by an hour or more a week could make a significant difference over time.*

* As always, it’s important to check with your family physician and/or reproductive science specialist before altering your routine.