Exercise addiction, periods and fertility - with Yasmine Say
In/Fertility In The City29 Des 2025

Exercise addiction, periods and fertility - with Yasmine Say

In this episode of In/Fertility in the City, hosts Natalie Sutherland and Somaya Ouazzani are joined by Yasmine Say, founder of Say Fitness (a personal training studio in Chiswick, London). Together they unpack a topic that sits at the messy intersection of modern wellness culture and reproductive health: how “too much exercise + not enough fuel + chronic stress” can disrupt periods and fertility—even when you look like “the picture of health.”

Yasmine shares her personal fertility story, including being fast-tracked to an IVF appointment before anyone properly investigated why she had no periods, and how she later received a diagnosis of hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA)—with almost no guidance on recovery. What follows is a candid conversation about exercise addiction, body image, cortisol and fight-or-flight, the pressure to “look like a trainer,” and the realities of “balance” when you’re trying to conceive.

What you’ll hear in this episode
  • Why there’s so much confusion about what exercise is “safe” while trying to conceive
  • How the “more is better” fitness mindset can backfire for reproductive health
  • Yasmine’s experience of coming off the pill and realising her periods didn’t return
  • The shock of being referred directly to IVF without answers about her cycle
  • Getting diagnosed with hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) and then being left to figure it out alone
  • Signs of low energy availability (thin uterine lining/low oestrogen, feeling cold, skin issues, frequent urination)
  • The role of stress physiology: cortisol, fight-or-flight, and why rest matters
  • The “All-In” HA recovery approach: reducing training, increasing food, gaining weight, reducing stress
  • A powerful reminder that health doesn’t “look” one way—and a critique of “six-pack culture”
  • The emotional side: guilt, denial, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and what “release” can do for the body
  • Postpartum realities, bounce-back culture, and protecting the next generation from harmful messaging
Key takeaways
  • Periods are a vital health signal, not an inconvenience.
  • You can be high-functioning, successful, “fit,” and still be in a state of low energy availability.
  • Overtraining + under-fuelling + stress can suppress ovulation and menstrual cycles.
  • For some people, a small change (Yasmine mentions ~3kg) plus stopping intense training can be the difference.
  • Recovery is often physical and psychological: rest, nourishment, stress reduction, and self-compassion.
Notable moments
  • Yasmine realising—on the bus home—that she’d been moved from “why don’t I have periods?” to “IVF pathway.”
  • The moment a hormone test confirmed her body was essentially stuck in chronic stress.
  • The “release” point: after an emotional weekend, she ovulated and conceived naturally soon after.
Content note This episode includes discussion of miscarriage, depression/anxiety, body dysmorphia, and exercise addiction. Read about Yasmine’s story here https://sayfitnesspt.com/blog/myfertilitystory

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About King’s Fertility (Sponsor):

One of London’s most respected IVF clinics, working with King’s College Hospital and King’s College London. King’s Fertility offers NHS and private patients world-leading research, advanced treatment, and compassionate care. Learn more at kingsfertility.co.uk

Connect With Us
  • Email: info@infertilityinthecity.com
  • Instagram / LinkedIn / X: @infertilityinthecity
  • TikTok: @infertility.in.the.city
  • YouTube: @InFertilityintheCity
  • Website: www.infertilityinthecity.com
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