
Fertility may be enhanced by more sun exposure, finds new study
A new study has found that sun exposure may enhance fertility in women, particularly those in their late reproductive years, by increasing the secretion of the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) from their ovaries. This finding is significant for women seeking to improve their chances of getting pregnant, especially as they get older.
Dr. Ruth Percik from the Institute of Endocrinology at Sheba Medical Center explained, “The ovaries secrete the anti-Müllerian hormone, and its level in the bloodstream is linked to ovarian function.” The study, published in the journal Steroids, suggests that the seasonal variability of AMH tests could help gauge how the ovaries respond to UV radiation.
The researchers compared the AMH results of 2,235 Israeli women to recorded levels of UV radiation and found a statistically significant seasonal pattern in older fertile women, aged 30 to 40, in response to sun exposure.

Dr. Carmit Levy, Tel Aviv University
This groundbreaking research was led by Prof. Carmit Levy of the Department of Human Genetics and Biochemistry, along with 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.
“Our research suggests that the female reproductive system is indeed more fertile in the summer, but we still have no information on the mechanism or actual success rates,” says Prof. Levy.
Dr. Percik adds, “Based on my interpretation of the findings, women at the onset of their reproductive age are less in need of signals from the sun, which affect hormonal pathways that have not yet been sufficiently studied.
This effect was most pronounced among women aged 35 and older. However, further research is necessary to determine whether sun exposure can actually help fertility and to establish the appropriate level of exposure. It’s important to exercise caution and aim for moderate sun exposure.
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