Effect of Exercise and Orgasm

Hello,

I am 37 years old. Last Fall I had one official miscarriage after 5 1/2 weeks (3 1/2 past dpo) and what I believe was one unofficial one a few months earlier (no test was taken, but my symptoms had been very similar to when I was pregnant). I have two questions: 1. Both times, spotting and then later bleeding occurred after I had exercised. My OB claims there is no correlation, but given my age and the fact that I have had at least one miscarriage, should I avoid exercising? My husband is becoming very worried every time I do.  (I realize that any exercise must be moderate). 2. Can an orgasm (with fairly pronounced uterine contractions) prevent implantation? I am now trying again on last night was 7 dpo. After the O, I worried that maybe I might have prevented implantation. Am I simply being alarmist? I read this morning that with IV fertilization, one should abstain at least until pregnancy is confirmed and am worried that even though ours was not IV, we may have messed up our chances this month.

[crazy girl]

I can't really answer this question for sure but I would like to share with you my experience. Before this present pregnancy I thought for sure that I was pregnant a couple months prior. I was really emotional and I was getting mild mestrual cramps with no period which was my first pregnancy symptom this time around. I am a very active person and was exercising almost everyday. One day I had these cramps and just thought that my period was finally coming (days late) and so since being active helps these cramps I started to skip rope and do crunchies and stuff like that at home. It made my cramps so bad I was in the fetal position for a couple of hours and my husband didn't know what was going on because my cramps aren't that bad. Then I had a huge amount of blood come out and then I just lightly spotted for a couple of days and then nothing. My doctor told me that it was probably a m/c and that 30% of pregnancy's end right around when the period is due and so most women just think it's a crampy heavy period. Again with the pregnancy I have now I spotted on and off for a long while and after I relaxed and took some time laying down for myself it always stopped. For a while I wondered if excercising had caused it since it only got worse after I started but now I am just thankful that the first pregnancy ended because the number one reason for m/c is because something is wrong with the egg and I'd rather have the m/c at the beginning then after a couple of months and weeks when I am loving that little baby sooo much already. Also I'd rather have the m/c then have my little baby have problems that it will have to face for the rest of it's life. A m/c is just your bodies way of getting rid of a problem. I know it sounds so awful to say but I just truly believe God won't put something you can't handle in your path. Good luck with everything but I wouldn't stop exercising, I'd keep my body as healthy as I could for that little baby, I would just excercise in moderation, what you think you can handle. I know women that have trained in their professional sport during their whole pregnancy and have been fine. I think it just depends on your body and your baby!
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[Kassimom]

I too just wanted to share my own experience. After suffering one m/c, my dr advised me NOT to excersise at all until I am 14 wks. This has been miserable for me, I like to work out. It gave me energy and made me feel great.  This is a question best presented to your practitioner for honest answers because only he/she knows what is safe for you and your baby to be.

[OL_Query]

Thanks to both of you for your responses. Unfortunately, where I live, one cannot see an OBGyn until one is two or three months pregant, so I'm rather stuck. As I mentioned, knowing that I had a m/c, my fertility Doc said that exercise had no effect whatsoever, yet as I read your comments and resources online, I am concerned by what I see.... sigh

[austinandadamsmom]

Just wanted to let you know that when I was trying to get pregnant with my second child the doctor told me that having an orgasam while having sex increases you chance of getting pregnant because the contractions draws the sperm in more.  Just wanted to let you know since you were concerned about the big O keeping you from getting pregnant.  Good Luck and God Bless.

[Niki73]

Just wanted to share my experience...I had had three miscarriages and when I was pregnant for the fourth time my doctor told me no excersize until I was 16weeks along. Just like you I work out 6 days a week cardio and weights so it was really hard for me but knowing this may help with my pregnancy I didn't do anything not even walk until I was 16 weeks...then I went back to my normal routine just did lighter weights and a lower level on the stair master. I ended up having a healthy baby girl. Now the doctors had told me that if I did not have a history of miscarriages then it would be okay to continue to work out but because of my history they did not want me doing anything until 16weeks...I hope that helps a little. Yes it is true that an organism helps the sperm travel to your egg but once you are pregnant the doctor also told me NO SEX until I made it past 12 weeks and not during the time I would have normally had my period....again that is because I had a history of miscarriages...so I did exactly what he told me and I finally had my beautiful baby girl!!!!! I am thinking I may be pregnant now just by some symtoms (symptoms) I won't know until next week but I am already a little worried because I have been working out so starting today I am not going to go until I find out if I am or not and I have such a hard time so I hope I am!!!! Good Luck!

[C2ViVid]

First off Baby Dust to you!
I was surprised to read that you cannot see an OBGYN until 2-3 months pregnant! Where do you live? This is so important to you and your babies health, the first trimester is crucial.
Of course, you and the OBGYN need to discuss your history and answer all these questions for you. I had one M/C, however my doctor encouraged intercourse citing a distraction from the 2WW, continuing to keep the uterine wall (which is a muscle) strong and studies have shown that the woman’s body may need continued exposure to the man’s pheromones, several times a week during the last two weeks of her cycle to make implantation more likely. This signals the presence of a pair-bonded male who could provide her and her developing child with enough food to survive the pregnancy.
As for exercise, I traded my run for a longer brisk walk, and lowered my weights by half with less reps. I will loose muscle mass, but will continue to burn calories. Weight management is simply calories is vs calories out. If you work out less, you will need to watch the quality your calorie intake to avoid unhealthy weight gain.  

Good luck to you!
I am 4 DPO (IUI)....I am worried about all this, too!