Physical activity and fertility in women: the North-Trondelag Health Study

Guðmundsdóttir, Sigríður Lára; Flanders, W. Dana; Augestad, Liv Berit

doi:10.1093/humrep/dep337

Cited by 146 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Irregular menstrual cycles may relate to anovulation, infertility and spontaneous abortion (6,(9)(10)(11). A recent study has found highly active women from the HUNT studies at higher risk of infertility than moderately active ones (44).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A longitudinal study of physical activity and menstrual cycle characteristics in healthy Norwegian women – The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study

Guðmundsdóttir¹,

Flanders²,

Augestad³

2011

Nor J Epidemiol

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Background: Long menstrual cycles have been associated with anovulation, infertility and spontaneous abortion. Elite athletes have been found at risk of menstrual dysfunction. We evaluated the longitudinal association between leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and menstrual function in healthy non-athletic women. Methods: A population-based health survey (HUNT 1) was conducted during [1984][1985][1986] in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway, with follow-up in 1995-1997 (HUNT 2). The current study included 3,097 women, <45 years old in HUNT 2. LTPA was assessed by questionnaire in HUNT 1, and menstrual function by questionnaire in HUNT 2. Data focused on overall occurrence of menstrual disorders in the population. Results were adjusted for age, education, psychological health, smoking and alcohol intake. Additional analyses included BMI as a potential confounder. Results: The median cycle length was 30 days and median number of days bleeding was 5. In women with normal cycle length, mean (SD) cycle length and duration of bleeding was 29.3 (2.8) and 5.6 (1.7) respectively. Cycle length increased with higher frequency of LTPA for women >25 years old. Women, 20-25 years old at baseline who were active most days had increased odds of short cycles, more bleeding days and increased odds of having irregular cycles, OR=4.7; 95% CI = 1.2-18.0). Number of bleeding days decreased with longer duration (p<0.05) and higher intensity (p=0.065) in young women. Adjustment for BMI did not affect the results. Conclusion: Leisure time physical activity may affect menstrual function, although in our study, the results were modified by age.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A longitudinal study of physical activity and menstrual cycle characteristics in healthy Norwegian women – The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study

Guðmundsdóttir¹,

Flanders²,

Augestad³

2011

Nor J Epidemiol

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“…Exercising to exhaustion caused a further increase in fertility problems. However, after terminating the active sport, the number of nulliparous women was the same in the inactive and formerly active women (55). When the influence of physical activity in 2232 women undergoing IVF treatment was investigated, those women who exercised 4 or more hours per week for 1-9 years were 40% less likely to experience a live birth in the first IVF cycle than those who did not exercise at all (56).…”

Section: Reproductive Functionsmentioning

confidence: 97%

MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Medical consequences of doping with anabolic androgenic steroids: effects on reproductive functions

Nieschlag

Vorona

2015

European Journal of Endocrinology

194

115

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Anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) are appearance and performance-enhancing drugs (APEDs) used in competitive athletics, in recreational sports, and by body-builders. The global lifetime prevalence of AASs abuse is 6.4% for males and 1.6% for women. Many AASs, often obtained from the internet and dubious sources, have not undergone proper testing and are consumed at extremely high doses and in irrational combinations, also along with other drugs. Controlled clinical trials investigating undesired side effects are lacking because ethical restrictions prevent exposing volunteers to potentially toxic regimens, obscuring a causal relationship between AASs abuse and possible sequelae. Because of the negative feedback in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, in men AASs cause reversible suppression of spermatogenesis, testicular atrophy, infertility, and erectile dysfunction (anabolic steroid-induced hypogonadism). Should spermatogenesis not recover after AASs abuse, a pre-existing fertility disorder may have resurfaced. AASs frequently cause gynecomastia and acne. In women, AASs may disrupt ovarian function. Chronic strenuous physical activity leads to menstrual irregularities and, in severe cases, to the female athlete triad (low energy intake, menstrual disorders and low bone mass), making it difficult to disentangle the effects of sports and AASs. Acne, hirsutism and (irreversible) deepening of the voice are further consequences of AASs misuse. There is no evidence that AASs cause breast carcinoma. Detecting AASs misuse through the control network of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) not only aims to guarantee fair conditions for athletes, but also to protect them from medical sequelae of AASs abuse.

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“…Despite the beneficial effects of exercise, some studies have shown that intense exercise has adverse effects on the male and female reproductive system (4). Although the exact mechanism involved in exercise-induced reproductive disruption is not well defined (5). Abnormality in the reproductive system following exercise can be due to disruption of the pulsatile secretion of gonadotropinreleasing hormone (GnRH) probably due to the stress of exercise and sustained low energy availability (6).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spermatogenesis Process Following Chronic Swimming and Standing in Cold, Warm and Lukewarm Water

2014

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Background: Physical activity and alteration of temperature as a source of stress may have adverse effects on male reproduction. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of chronic swimming and standing in cold, warm and lukewarm water on mouse spermatogenesis. Materials and Methods: Forty-nine male mice (N = 49) were randomly divided into seven groups: C, control; SwC, swimming in cold water (10°C); StC, standing in cold water (10°C); SwL, swimming in lukewarm water (23°C); StL, standing in lukewarm water (23°C); SwW, swimming in warm water (36°C); StW, standing in warm water (36°C). Animals in swimming groups were submitted to daily forced swimming for five minutes for five consecutive days/week during five weeks. However groups StC, StL and StW were only standing on a raised platform inside the water pool, without swimming, for the same time and duration. Evaluations on day 36 were made using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Johnsen score and immunohistochemistry for assay of serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, quality of spermatogenesis and detection of apoptosis, respectively. Results: Serum LH and testosterone levels as well as Johnsen score were significantly reduced in all groups except for the group standing in lukewarm water (P < 0.05). Apoptosis was increased only in the swimming or standing in warm water groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study indicates that forced swimming and standing in all water temperatures has adverse effects on male fertility parameters, the only exception is standing in lukewarm water, which seems to be safe for male fertility parameters.

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Physical activity and fertility in women: the North-Trondelag Health Study

Abstract: Increased risk of infertility was only found for the small group of women reporting the highest levels of intensity and frequency of PA. Awareness of the possible risks of infertility should be highlighted among non-athletic women who exercise vigorously.

Cited by 146 publications

References 46 publications

A longitudinal study of physical activity and menstrual cycle characteristics in healthy Norwegian women – The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study

A longitudinal study of physical activity and menstrual cycle characteristics in healthy Norwegian women – The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study

MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Medical consequences of doping with anabolic androgenic steroids: effects on reproductive functions

Spermatogenesis Process Following Chronic Swimming and Standing in Cold, Warm and Lukewarm Water

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