A Preconception Cohort Study of Physical Activity, Fertility, and Spontaneous Abortion Including a Randomized Controlled Trial

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to understand how physical activity affects fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and the risk of spontaneous abortion in women trying to conceive. It focuses on women without pregnancy complications and evaluates whether motivational counseling on physical activity can improve pregnancy chances and reduce complications such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. The study is part of a larger ongoing cohort investigating factors influencing fertility and pregnancy health. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. Both groups receive a wrist-worn activity tracker to wear continuously during their attempt to conceive and, if pregnant, through the first trimester. The intervention group also receives motivational counseling, including educational materials, personalized goal setting on physical activity, and follow-up phone calls to encourage maintaining or increasing activity levels. The control group maintains their usual physical activity without additional support. Women in the study will wear activity trackers to monitor physical activity levels and complete questionnaires. Researchers will collect data on time to pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, and other pregnancy outcomes using self-reports and registry information. Physical activity is measured from randomization up to 15 months, time to pregnancy is tracked for up to 12 months, and spontaneous abortion is monitored up to 22 weeks of gestation. The study includes safety monitoring and aims to provide insights useful for women facing fertility challenges and pregnancy complications.

Physical Activity, Fertility, and Spontaneous Abortion in Danish Couples Trying to Conceive