What This Means
This research pooled results from 13 separate scientific analyses covering over 24,000 women and 8,000 men to examine whether exercise can improve fertility outcomes. The study found that physically active women tended to have better hormonal profiles related to reproduction—specifically higher levels of SHBG and AMH—as well as higher rates of ovulation, pregnancy, and clinical pregnancy. In men, exercise was linked to better sperm quality across multiple measures including count, concentration, shape, and semen volume, and men who exercised were more likely to have partners who became pregnant.
The findings suggest that exercise may be a practical, affordable tool to support reproductive health for people trying to conceive, regardless of sex. Unlike many fertility treatments, exercise requires no medical procedure and carries few risks, making it a potentially accessible option to complement conventional fertility care. However, the researchers caution that the quality of the underlying evidence was mostly rated as 'low' or 'very low' certainty, meaning these results should be interpreted carefully.
This research suggests that while exercise appears promising for improving fertility-related outcomes, scientists do not yet have enough high-quality evidence to say exactly what type, intensity, or duration of exercise works best. More rigorously designed clinical trials are needed before firm recommendations can be made. In the meantime, the findings add to growing evidence that general physical activity may have benefits beyond cardiovascular and metabolic health, extending into reproductive health for both women and men.