According to a report by Vanguard News on July 6, 2024, a recent study suggests that women in their 30s and 40s may experience an improvement in their ovarian reserve through modest sun exposure. The study, published in Steroids, investigated the impact of sun exposure on female fertility by examining the levels of a hormone called anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and its seasonal variations. The researchers discovered that women over the age of 30 exhibited higher levels of AMH during the spring and autumn when moderate solar radiation intensity was present. However, this effect was not observed in women under 30, indicating a potential age-related association between solar radiation and female fertility. The study, conducted in Israel with 2,235 participants aged 20 to 40, aimed to understand the relationship between sun exposure and AMH, which serves as an indicator of female fertility.
The findings suggested that AMH levels decline with age, but it's important to note that AMH does not necessarily reflect the quality of oocytes. The researchers divided the participants into two groups: those aged 20-29 and those aged 30-40. For women in the younger group, there was no significant correlation between AMH levels and seasons or solar radiation intensity. However, in the 30-40 age group, AMH levels increased during the spring and autumn when there was moderate solar radiation, compared to lower levels during the winter. Furthermore, participants in this group who had AMH levels measured during the summer exhibited higher levels compared to those measured during the winter.
Although the study sheds light on a potential seasonal influence on AMH levels for women aged 30-40, the underlying mechanism behind this correlation remains unknown. It is important to consider that fertility is influenced by various factors, including obesity, smoking, certain health conditions, and environmental aspects. The study has limitations, such as the lack of a causal relationship between the observed components and the fact that it focused on one geographical area. Additionally, the researchers did not analyze other hormone levels or consider participants' reproductive history.