Does sunlight have an affect on a woman’s fertility? Well, a research team from Tel Aviv University and the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer said this may very well be possible. But don’t worry: sunshine improves fertility.
Specifically with women above a certain age, when they begin to have problems conceiving a child. This has to do with the ultraviolet (UV) radiation and a certain hormone that women’s bodies produce more of during the summer months.
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The CDC explains that Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a form of non-ionizing radiation that is emitted by the sun and artificial sources, such as tanning beds. The beneficial effects of UV radiation include the production of a vital nutrient, vitamin D; however, overexposure may present risks.
The hormone in question is AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone). The Cleveland Clinic explains that AMH plays a key role in developing a baby’s sex organs while in the womb. AMH levels are higher in male babies, as this prevents them from developing female reproductive organs. Female babies only need a small amount of AMH for their development.
The Israeli scientists found that during the summer, women “of late reproductive age” — between the ages of 30 and 40 — experience increased secretion of the hormone from their ovaries. This phenomenon is suggested to be attributed to heightened exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. The research was led by Prof. Carmit Levy of the Department of Human Genetics and Biochemistry, in a team effort of Ph.D. student Roma Parikh and Prof. Yftach Gepner of the School of Public Health, all from the Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University and Dr. Ruth Percik from the Institute of Endocrinology at Sheba Medical Center. The results of the study were published in the journal Steroids.
“The ovaries secrete the anti-Müllerian hormone, and its level in the bloodstream is linked to ovarian function,” explains Dr. Percik. “While the hormone level is specific to an individual woman at a given point in time, and does not provide a definitive assessment of the status of her fertility, evaluating its value, trend, and comparison to the age group is the best indicator of fertility that we have.’
So, explain the researchers, this means that every woman who wants to get pregnant, or is trying to, is sent for an AMH test. In Israel, all of these tests are directed to the central laboratory in Sheba and the researchers investigated the seasonal variability of the AMH tests in order to gauge how the ovaries respond to UV radiation.
The researchers compared the AMH results of 2,235 Israeli women to the recorded levels of UV radiation. For younger women, aged 20-29, no statistical relationship was found between UV exposure and AMH level. On the other hand, among older fertile women, aged 30 to 40, a statistically significant seasonal pattern emerged: These women, whose egg reserves are in decline, responded positively to sun exposure.
“Based on our prior studies, we can affirm that sun exposure increases metabolism, sexual appetite and behavior, and, at least in animal models, enlarges the ovaries and extends the estrus period,” explains Prof. Levy.
