To ask DH to stop cycling?

[Rens16]

To ask DH to stop cycling for a few months while we TTC?

We are both 31 and have been TTC since our 1st child since April, none of us has any children with anyone else. Im currently on cycle 11 with absolutely no sign of a BFP. My cycles are very regular albeit on the shorter side but definetly not concerning.

DH back story- his MIL passed away Dec 2019, he was grieving and starting to spiral, I was worried he was going to go into depression when 1st lockdown came in March. In May he decided to take up cycling as a hobby and within a month you could tell a huge difference in him, his mood improved and was starting to be like his normal self again. He has really committed to this hobby and cycles easily 40/50 miles a week... his health mentally and physically are both on top form now. This is amazing and all I could want for him, it has been a really good way for him to cope with his grief.
Over the last few months he has really ramped up the fitness he's competing for top times on strava and setting himself loads of targets so he's now cycling more than ever.

After reading many articles I am now starting to get concerned that this hobby of his could be the reason as to why we haven't conceived yet? I really don't want to have to ask him to stop doing something he loves so much.

I would just like to know if anyone else has managed to conceive with a husband who cycles A LOT. And just for some general advice opinions.

Thanks xx

@violetbunny

I'd be less concerned about conception, and more concerned about whether he expects to continue spending hours at a time on his hobby once you have a young family....

Oh please.

40/50 miles a week equates to about half an hour of cycling a day, or an hour every other day. That’s a completely reasonable amount of time to spend on a hobby, especially when it brings so many physical and mental health benefits.

OP, you have my sympathies for being at that horrible time where you don’t quite meet the requirements yet for medical intervention yet you feel like it’s been long enough that there must be an outside reason. Fingers crossed for good news soon!

Haven't noticed the Netherlands birth rates falling.....

His MH is extremely important as you say. Best you both get tested to see if any underlying issues rather than remove his sport. You've been trying less than a year during an incredibly stressful time for everyone. Good luck

My cycling obsessed husband has cycled 80+ miles before just for fun . I fell pregnant with our baby last year and he was cycling 6 days a week at that point. He is mid-30s and has a good diet with plenty of lean protein, healthy carbs, fats and veggies. Doesn’t smoke and doesn’t drink to excess. If you are concerned perhaps your husband could take a look at his diet to increase your chances of conceiving?

Obviously a baby will mean he’ll have to cut back on hobbies a bit. But I would encourage your dh to still exercise when he can. I think it’s even more beneficial for mental health than physical health and he’ll be a better Dad for it.

My husband is over 40 and cycles a lot more than that. Got pregnant very easily. I wouldn't start telling him he can't do things. You're adding stress to the situation

I struggled to conceive but tried accupuncture and Chinese herbs and fell pregnant within 2 cycles. Might be worth a try?

Yanbu. Two kids here with a mad cyclist. That said, if he smokes weed, definitely make him stop. I've had three friends whose husbands have been told to stop by reproductive health doctors when they couldn't conceive. Everyone says "no" when the doctor asks if they use drugs, so they often forget to tell husbands how it affects sperm count and motility.

I think drinking and smoking too much has got to have a far worse effect on sperm quality surely?

We had this at the same age as you and DH stopped drinking for 3 months plus too zinc and selenium supplements. Might be worth a try. I think there are things you can try before asking him to stop cycling (different/special shorts/ pants? Ones that keep his testicles cooler?) I think the risk of depression and no interest at all in sex and TTC would be a risk of you asked him to stop cycling.

Adding my voice to those whom cycling did not negatively impact conception. in my sports club at the time, which involved a lot of long distance cycling, the rate of conception was very high.

Yeah I doubt him being fitter and healthier than before is having an affect on his fertility tbh!!

Dh has cycled his entire life with several years in sponsored competition. We conceived 4 times.

The improvement in his health will be a good thing, there is no actual evidence that cycling diminishes sperm quality or mobility.

It's a strange thing that it seems so hard to get pregnant when we actually try. But stick with it. Research the sperm meets egg plan too (SMEP)

I also had this worry and asked my husband to lay off the really intense rides while we were trying but they were more like 60 miles in a day. I agree with others it’s probably not going to impact.

I think it would be unreasonable to tell him in a way that blames him for you not getting pregnant, but you can mention in passing that too little or too much exercise for either of you won't be helpful. I dont think 40 miles a week is that much, for what its worth we conceived straight away and my partner cycles much more than that and has done for years.

DH cycles competitively (pre-Covid) and does 50-60 miles four or five times a week on Strava.

We had no trouble in conceiving at all.