Moderate Sun Exposure Could Improve Female Fertility Outcomes, Study Suggests

According to a new study, being moderately exposed to solar radiation during spring and autumn could boost the fertility of women who are 30 to 40 years old.

Sun Exposure and Female Fertility

The study "Seasonal AMH variability implies a positive effect of UV exposure on the deterioration of ovarian follicles" looked into how solar radiation exposure could affect female fertility. The researchers looked into the levels of a hormone known as the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH). They also examined how hormone levels varied at different times of the year.

The study was held in Israel and covered 2,235 women from 20 to 40 years old.

Dr. Kelli V Burroughs, a national media women's health medical expert and the OB-GYN department chair of the Memorial Hermann Sugar Land, who was not a study author, reveals that when it comes to evaluating a patient's fertility status, levels of AMH is obtained. Such levels correlate with ovarian research. Studies have revealed that levels of this hormone go down with age. Hence, the same is the case for fertility.

As the researchers observed that levels of AMH decline with age, the participants were divided into two groups. One group involved participants who were 20 to 29 years old, while the other group included participants who were 30 to 40 years old.

Results were found to be significant for women over 30 years old and who had higher AMH levels in autumn and spring when solar radiation intensity levels were moderate.

However, such an effect was not observed by researchers in women below the age of 30. This indicates that solar radiation could impact female fertility with age.

On top of this, AMH levels during months of moderate exposure to solar radiation were generally higher compared to months with low- or high-intensity levels of solar radiation. The researchers also found that participants belonging to the 30- to 40-year-old age group with AMH levels gathered during the summer had significantly higher AMH levels compared to those who collected the levels during the winter.

Overall, the results show that moderate solar radiation exposure could be helpful for women in their 30s who want to get pregnant.

While the study offers valuable insights, further research is necessary to know more about these factors and their possible implications. The study also has limitations, such as being incapable of establishing any causal link between the two components.

Researchers also note that the sample size of the 20- to 29-year-old group could have affected the association between seasons and AMH. They also admit that they did not look into levels of the luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) among 26- to 30-year-old women. They also note the possibility of confounding variables associated with things such as cultural distinctions or skin tones. Different factors, such as personal participant choices and lifestyle, could have also affected the results.

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Female Fertility

There are various factors that affect fertility, making it quite complex. At times, it is possible to make modifications to factors that can affect infertility.

For instance, being underweight or obese could boost infertility risk. The same goes for heavy drinking and smoking. There are also certain health conditions, such as autoimmune disorders and thyroid disease, that could affect female infertility.

Dr. Kecia Gaither, MPH, a double board-certified maternal-fetal medicine specialist and OB-GYN specialist and the director of the NYC Health's Perinatal Services/Maternal Fetal Medicine, explains that there are several factors that affect fertility. With this, it is crucial to note environmental aspects, such as plain exposure to the sun, as a factor that correlates with positive fertility outcomes.