A new study indicates that women in their 30s or 40s may get a boost to their fertility with increased sunlight exposure. That’s because the extra sunlight was shown to increase their ovarian reserve. However, this boost wasn’t seen in women under 30 years of age. Researchers looked at anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and studied the way the levels of AMH changed along with the seasons.

What they found was that women over 30 had higher AMH levels in the spring, summer, and fall months, and their levels decreased in the winter. Because women under 30 didn’t have the same response, though, the researchers believe that solar radiation’s effect on AMH may rise with age. More research is needed to get a better understanding of how these changes work and how significant they are for women who may be trying to conceive.

It’s also important to note that ovarian reserve and AMH don’t necessarily affect the quality of any oocytes produced. In other words, more AMH might not translate to viable embryos or pregnancies. However, it’s still encouraging and important to explore, so more women can get the information and answers they need for their fertility journey. Because fertility is complex and there are a lot of factors to consider, the goal is to find those factors and consider potential modifications.

Weight, smoking, certain health conditions, and other considerations can all affect fertility. Some of these factors are easier to change than others, and those changes may have an important effect on fertility. Since the study didn’t control for a number of other aspects of fertility it’s possible that the changes that were observed were created by some other process, or that there isn’t any direct correlation.

Still, more research will continue to shed light on the issue and help women who are looking for fertility help find options that can work for them. Multiple factors come into play when addressing fertility, and more studies will need to be conducted to determine how much AMH levels may affect a woman’s ability to conceive a child and carry to term.

There are many ways to create a family or grow your family. If you feel that Assisted Reproductive Technology is the best option for you, The Surrogacy Law Center can help you protect your legal rights throughout the process. Contact us today to learn more!