Off-campus UMass Amherst users: To download campus access dissertations, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your UMass Amherst user name and password.
Non-UMass Amherst users: Please talk to your librarian about requesting this dissertation through interlibrary loan.
Dissertations that have an embargo placed on them will not be available to anyone until the embargo expires.
ORCID
N/A
Access Type
Open Access Thesis
Document Type
thesis
Degree Program
Public Health
Degree Type
Master of Science (M.S.)
Year Degree Awarded
2017
Month Degree Awarded
May
Abstract
Background:
Physical activity (PA) may influence fecundability through alterations in endocrine function. The limited studies that have evaluated PA and fecundability in non-clinical populations have utilized internet-based recruitment, contain potential issues in measurement, and have yielded inconclusive results.
Methods:
We evaluated the association between PA and time-to-pregnancy in the Effects of Aspirin in Gestation and Reproduction trial, which included 1228 women attempting pregnancy ages 18–40 with prior pregnancy loss. PA was measured at baseline using the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire to determine hours/week of activity (vigorous, moderate, and walking) and hours/day of sedentary (sitting) behavior. Pregnancy was assessed using urine hCG assays. Discrete time Cox models were used to estimate fecundability odds ratios (FORs) adjusted for marital status and parity, accounting for left truncation and right censoring.
Results:
We observed a positive association between fecundability and vigorous PA of ≥ 4 hrs/week vs. none (FOR= 1.55, 95% CI: 1.17, 2.07) adjusted for marital status and parity. In stratified multivariable models, this association was most pronounced among overweight/obese women reporting vigorous PA of ≥ 4 hrs/week compared to none (FOR=2.27, 1.41, 3.65); however, there was no significant effect modification. Fecundability was not associated with categorical measures of moderate PA, walking, or sitting.
Conclusion:
In this study, fecundability was positively associated with vigorous PA. Further study is necessary to clarify possible mechanisms to explain the relationship through which vigorous PA might affect time-to-pregnancy; however, such improvements in fecundability may be related to a reduction in ovulatory disorders.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7275/10009283
First Advisor
Brian W. Whitcomb
Second Advisor
Marquis Hawkins
Recommended Citation
Russo, Lindsey M., "A Prospective Study of Physical Activity and Fecundability" (2017). Masters Theses. 533.
https://doi.org/10.7275/10009283
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/masters_theses_2/533