Textbook Problem

Exercise can be bad for you—or at least it is for Anna Marie. She and her husband Mark already have two delightful children, full-time jobs, and hectic schedules. Mark wants more children, but Anna Marie is dead set against it. Mark refuses to use contraception and has made Anna Marie promise not to use any, either. Anna Marie makes the promise because she thinks she can avoid pregnancy by staying at her weight of 210 pounds. At this weight, Anna Marie seldom has a menstrual period and figures the odds of conception are slim. For two years, Anna Marie's plan for avoiding conception has worked.

Now that the children are older, Anna Marie finds she has a bit of free time, which she uses to indulge her love of swimming. Within months of beginning her program of swimming regularly, however, Anna Marie abandons it. Her menstrual periods have become regular, and her contraception method is lost.

Anna Marie’s weight at 210 pounds has remained stable during the months she has been swimming. It appears that her improved level of physical fitness and body fat has improved her fertility status.

What was likely the reason for Anna Marie's infertility when she was inactive?

Summary Introduction

To explain: The reason for Person A’s infertility when she was inactive.

Introduction: The female reproductive cycle is a unique framework that involves continuous corelation between the ovary and the brain. Hormones released by the hypothalamus, the ovary, and the pituitary are responsible for regulation of the monthly cycle.

Explanation of Solution

Person A and her husband already have two lovely children, full-time jobs, and hectic schedules. Her husband wants them to have more children, and requested her not to use any kind of contraceptive pills. Person A had a weight of 210 pounds. At this weight, she was unable to conceive and also was not having regular periods. Within months following her program of swimming regularly, Person A’s menstrual periods have become regular, and her contraception method is lost. It seems that her better level of physical fitness and body fat has amended her fertility status.

As mentioned earlier, Person A’s lifestyle comprises full-time jobs and hectic schedules, which show high probability of fluctuations in hormones and this affected her health. Pituitary gonadotropin is controlled by the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). If a person has a health issue, this could affect the hormone level. Due to Person A’s overweight, her health was getting affected; this was a reason for her infertility when she was inactive.