Q. I'm very athletic, and I'm now training for a marathon. I still get my periods regularly. But will this intensive training interfere with my ability to get pregnant?
A. As you seem to be aware, strenuous exercise like long-distance running can result in a condition called amenorrhea, or absent menstrual periods. This typically occurs as a woman’s body fat drops below a critical level needed for ovulation to occur. Some women will, in spite of extreme exercise, continue to get their periods regularly; theoretically these women should still be able to conceive. However, our experience has been that women who train rigorously and are having problems getting pregnant, even if they have regular periods, will often benefit (meaning get pregnant!) after they’ve cut down their exercise to a more moderate level.
