Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Sport Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Arak University, Arak, Iran

2 Sport Sciences Research Institute, Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran

Abstract

Background: Inadequate lifestyle choices, such as insufficient physical activity, may be linked to adverse fertility outcomes. Given the profound influence of lifestyle on women’s reproductive health, this study was undertaken to compare the levels of physical activity and body composition among fertile and infertile Iranian women in 2022.
Methods: This cross-sectional study encompassed 653 fertile women (mean age: 32.58±5.99 years, mean body mass index (BMI): 25.7±3.64 kg/m²) and infertile women (mean age: 32.59±5.38 years, mean BMI: 26.4±5.6 kg/m²) who sought assistance at infertility centers in six provinces (Guilan, Markazi, Hamedan, Sistan, and Baluchestan, Isfahan, and Khuzestan) during the research period spanning 2021 to 2022. Participants completed questionnaires regarding their lifestyle habits and physical activity levels, body composition was also assessed. Chi-square and multiple logistic regression tests were employed for data analysis.
Results: Fertile women exhibited superior physical activity (P=0.04) and a lower BMI (P=0.001) than their infertile counterparts. Women with a high level of physical activity (OR=4.42, P=0.004) were more likely to experience infertility. Inactive women who spent more than 300 minutes per day sitting were 2.07 times more susceptible to fertility complications than their physically active peers (moderate activity) (OR=2.07, P=0.001).
Conclusion: Given the simultaneous increase in obesity, inactivity, and infertility among Iranian women, it is imperative to place greater emphasis on lifestyle habits, including appropriate physical activity, to prevent and potentially treat infertility.

Highlights

Abbas Saremi: (Google Scholar), (PubMed)

 

 

How to Cite: Saremi A, Moradzadeh R. The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Primary Infertility in Iranian Women. Women. Health. Bull. 2024;11(1):20-28. doi: 10.30476/WHB.2024.97668.1216.

Keywords

  • Duran AT, Romero E, Diaz KM. Is Sedentary Behavior a Novel Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease? Curr Cardiol Rep. 2022;24(4):393-403. doi: 10.1007/s11886-022-01657-w. PubMed PMID: 35182312. ##
  • Gaskins AJ, Afeiche MC, Hauser R, Williams PL, Gillman MW, Tanrikut C, et al. Paternal physical and sedentary activities in relation to semen quality and reproductive outcomes among couples from a fertility center. Hum Reprod. 2014;29(11):2575–82. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deu212. PubMed PMID: 25164027; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4191451. ##
  • Mı´nguez-Alarco´n L, Chavarro JE, Mendiola J, Gaskins AJ, Torres-Cantero AM. Physical activity is not related to semen quality in young healthy men. Fertil Steril. 2014;102(4):1103–9. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.06.032. PubMed PMID: 25064411; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4393647. ##
  • Wise LA, Rothman KJ, Mikkelsen EM, Sorensen HT, Riis AH, Hatch EE. A prospective cohort study of physical activity and time to pregnancy. Fertil Steril. 2012;97(5):1136-42. 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.02.025. PubMed PMID: 22425198; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3340509. ##
  • Kalantari A, Saremi A, Shavandi N, Foroutan Nia A. Impact of Four Week Swimming Exercise with Alpha-Tocopherol Supplementation on Fertility Potential in Healthy Rats. Urol J. 2017;14(5):5023-5026. PubMed PMID: 28853109. ##
  • Gudmundsdottir SL, Flanders WD, Augestad LB. Physical activity and fertility in women: The North- Trondelag Health Study. Hum Reprod. 2009;24:3196–204. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dep337. PubMed PMID: 19801570. ##
  • Gaskins AJ, Mendiola J, Afeiche M, Jorgensen N, Swan SH, Chavarro JE. Physical activity and television watching in relation to semen quality in young men. Br J Sports Med. 2015;49(4):265–70. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2012-091644. PubMed PMID: 23380634; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3868632. ##
  • Gaskins AJ, Williams PL, Keller MG, Souter I, Hauser R, Chavarro JE, et al. Maternal physical and sedentary activities in relation to reproductive outcomes following IVF. Reprod Biomed Online. 2016;33(4):513–521. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2016.07.002. PubMed PMID: 27474489; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5053884. ##
  • Ahmad R, Haque M. Obesity: A Doorway to a Molecular Path Leading to Infertility. Cureus. 2022;14(10):e30770. doi: 10.7759/cureus.30770. PubMed PMID: 36320802; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9612950. ##
  • Bosdou JK, Konstantinidou E, Anagnostis P, Kolibianakis EM, Goulis DG. Vitamin D and Obesity: Two Interacting Players in the Field of Infertility. Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1455. doi: 10.3390/nu11071455. PubMed PMID: 31252555; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6683323. ##
  • Chavarro JE, Rich-Edwards JW, Rosner BA, Willett WC. Diet and lifestyle in the prevention of ovulatory disorder infertility. Obstet Gynecol. 2007;110(5):1050-8. doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000287293.25465.e1. PubMed PMID: 17978119. ##
  • Morris SN, Missmer SA, Cramer DW, Powers RD, McShane PM, Hornstein MD. Effects of lifetime exercise on the outcome of in vitro fertilization. Obstet Gynecol. 2006;108(4):938–45. doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000235704.45652.0b. PubMed PMID: 17012457. ##
  • Foucaut AM, Faure C, Julia C, Czernichow S, Levy R, Dupont C, et al. Sedentary behavior, physical inactivity and body composition in relation to idiopathic infertility among men and women. PLoS One. 2019;14(4):e0210770. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210770. PubMed PMID: 31017887; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6481765. ##
  • Skakkebæk NE, Lindahl-Jacobsen R, Levine H, Andersson AM, Jørgensen N, Main KM, et al. Environmental factors in declining human fertility. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2022;18(3):139-157. doi: 10.1038/s41574-021-00598-8. PubMed PMID: 34912078. ##
  • Dhair A, Abed Y. The association of types, intensities and frequencies of physical activity with primary infertility among females in Gaza Strip, Palestine: A case-control study. PLoS One. 2020;15(10):e0241043. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241043. PubMed PMID: 33095804; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7584224. ##
  • Ma M, Guo L, Liu X, Zheng Y, Gu C, Li B. Genetic correlation between female infertility and mental health and lifestyle factors: A linkage disequilibrium score regression study. Health Sci Rep. 2022;5(5):e797. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.797. PubMed PMID: 36090619; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9436294. ##
  • Vasheghani-Farahani A, Tahmasbi M, Asheri H, Ashraf H, Nedjat S, Kordi R. The Persian, last 7-day, long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire: translation and validation study. Asian J Sports Med. 2011;2(2):106-16. doi: 10.5812/asjsm.34781. PubMed PMID: 22375226; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3289200. ##
  • Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Whitt MC, Irwin ML, Swartz AM, Strath SJ, et al. Compendium of physical activities: an update of activity codes and MET intensities. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;32:S498-504. doi: 10.1097/00005768-200009001-00009. PubMed PMID: 10993420. ##
  • Hammoud AO, Gibson M, Peterson CM, Meikle AW, Carrell DT. Impact of male obesity on infertility: a critical review of the current literature. Fertil Steril. 2008;90(4):897–904. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.08.026. PubMed PMID: 18929048. ##
  • Pedro J, Brandão T, Schmidt L, Costa ME, Martins MV. What do people know about fertility? A systematic review on fertility awareness and its associated factors. Ups J Med Sci. 2018;123(2):71-81. doi: 10.1080/03009734.2018.1480186. PubMed PMID: 29957086; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6055749. ##
  • Reece LJ, McInerney C, Blazek K, Foley BC, Schmutz L, Bellew B, et al. Reducing financial barriers through the implementation of voucher incentives to promote children’s participation in community sport in Australia. BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):19. doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-8049-6. PubMed PMID: 31910846; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6947832. ##
  • Saremi A, Parastesh M, Tavangar M. Does a Course of Aerobic Training Affect the Inflammatory Status and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors of Hookah-smoker Women? Results of a Cross-sectional Study. Addict Health. 2022;14(1):26-34. doi: 10.22122/ahj.v14i1.1193. PubMed PMID: 35573764; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9057642. ##
  • Rao A, Tait I, Alijani A. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the role of mental training in the acquisition of technical skills in surgery. Am J Surg. 2015;210(3):545-53. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2015.01.028. PubMed PMID: 26092443. ##
  • Belanger MJ, Rao P, Robbins JM. Exercise, Physical Activity, and Cardiometabolic Health: Pathophysiologic Insights. Cardiol Rev. 2022;30(3):134-144. doi: 10.1097/CRD.0000000000000417. PubMed PMID: 34560713; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9097788. ##
  • Mena GP, Mielke GI, Brown WJ. The effect of physical activity on reproductive health outcomes in young women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod Update. 2019;25(5):541-563. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmz013. PubMed PMID: 31304974. ##
  • Maïmoun L, Paris F, Coste O, Sultan C. Intensive training and menstrual disorders in young female: Impact on bone mass. Gynecol Obstet Fertil. 2016;44(11):659-663. doi: 10.1016/j.gyobfe.2016.09.001. PubMed PMID: 27751748. ##
  • Schumacher LM, Thomas JG, Vithiananthan S, Webster J, Jones DB, Bond DS. Prolonged sedentary time adversely relates to physical activity and obesity among preoperative bariatric surgery patients. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2020;16(4):562-567. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2019.12.016. PubMed PMID: 32005613; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7568514. ##
  • Santos M, Rodríguez-González GL, Ibáñez C, Vega CC, Nathanielsz PW, Zambrano E. Adult exercise effects on oxidative stress and reproductive programming in male offspring of obese rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2015;308(3):R219-25. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00398.2014. PubMed PMID: 25502750. ##
  • Mallinson RJ, Williams NI, Hill BR, De Souza MJD. Body composition and reproductive function exert unique influences on indices of bone health in exercising women. Bone. 2013;56(1):91-100. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2013.05.008. PubMed PMID: 23702387. ##