Latest claim circulating on TikTok? That pushing your hips within the gym will reduce your probabilities of getting pregnant.
While it is not entirely clear where the concept got here from, it has been floating around, with some creators creating it cheeky weight gain videos to have fun their childless lifestyle. But before you begin swapping contraception pills for hip thrusts, we spoke to a reproductive endocrinologist to seek out out the science behind these daring claims.
Can pelvic hip thrusts cause infertility?
If you are hoping to get pregnant someday, now we have excellent news: “There isn’t any known link between this exercise and infertility,” she says Lora Shahine, medical doctor, reproductive endocrinologist and program director at ul Fertility of the Pacific NW in Seattle. Infertility is commonly the results of many aspects, starting from hormonal imbalances to abnormalities within the reproductive system. Any single exercise, including pelvic hip thrusts, is unlikely to guide to infertility, she says.
Some commentators have speculated that placing a heavy barbell on the pelvis could cause uterine prolapse, a condition where the uterus descends into the vaginal canal. But again, Dr. Shahine says it’s probably nothing to fret about. With proper form and done moderately, weighted pelvic hip thrusts are a protected exercise to incorporate in your routine.
Like any exercise, doing hip thrusts incorrectly can result in discomfort or injury. When establishing weighted hip thrusts, place a barbell within the crook of your hips and use a barbell pad if the pressure in your hips is uncomfortable (this will even prevent bruising of your hip bones).
What for those who are actively attempting to get pregnant? Should you set hip thrusts aside for safety?
“In general, when attempting to conceive, I like to recommend continuing to exercise and move – exercise could be very useful in your physical and mental health,” says Dr Shahine.
But it is best to avoid extremes. Gaining weight, drastically increasing the period of time you spend within the gym, or drastically changing your exercise routine can wreak havoc in your hormones, alter ovulation, and make it harder to get pregnant, she says. So in case your goal is to conceive, now’s probably not the time to push for PR or start training for an ultramarathon.
Can you do hip-push while pregnant?
Dr. Shahine says there is no such thing as a evidence to suggest women should stop doing pelvic hip thrusts once they change into pregnant, but it surely is best to work with a prenatal fitness certified personal trainer who can suggest modifications to make the exercise more comfortable because the trimester progresses.
As your belly gets greater (pun intended), the barbell is probably not as comfortable in your stomach. Instead, replace the barbell with a pair of dumbbells high in your quads or a resistance band.
And while weighted hip thrusts is probably not the key to stopping pregnancy, they’re If still some of the effective exercises for serious glute gains. So keep pushing.
