Circadian Rhythm Disorders and Infertility

A woman's ability to become pregnant relies heavily on the regularity of her menstrual cycle. Women with consistent 28-34 day cycles are much more likely to conceive than those with irregular cycles or cycles over 35 days. Fertility is also directly related to the amount of light we receive. Women who live near the equator or in sunny locations are much more fertile than women who live in northern and darker regions. Women who get more light have more consistent and stronger menstrual patterns.

Two Fold Benefit of Light

Light aids fertility in two ways:

1. Bright light during the day helps increase fertility. Scientists theorize that bright morning and evening light sends a signal to the body clock that it is the right time of year to conceive. (It is more difficult to conceive during the short winter days.) Bright light also controls the overproduction of melatonin, which may stifle fertility.
   
2. Evening light and dusk simulation help regulate menstrual cycles, and a regular menstrual cycle increases the odds of conception. Several studies show that using light at night regulates irregular and longer menstrual cycles, even in women whose periods lasted nine weeks or more. Irregular and long menstrual cycles were normalized within a few weeks of treatment. Apollo Health has participated in many of these studies.

Why Nightlight Regulates Cycles

While our daily sleep/wake cycles are tied to bright light, menstrual cycles are tied to moonlight. As explained in Dr. Smolensky's book, The Body Clock Guide to Better Health:

"Our words, 'menstruation,' 'moon,' and 'month,' all come from the Greek word for 'measure of time.' A woman's menstrual cycle runs its course in about twenty-eight days, one lunar cycle. Periods usually start spontaneously in the week of the full moon in women not using birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, particularly those with ample exposure to natural daylight and dark cues."

Circadian Rhythms and Conception

The body clock dictates when the ovaries prepare and release eggs for fertilization. One of the best signs of fertility is immediately after ovulation, when body temperature increases 1°. However, conception is more likely to happen a day or two before this rise in temperature. Maintaining a normal menstrual cycle makes it easier to predict the best time to conceive, and helps relieve the stress some couples experience trying to conceive.

Apollo Health Tips

• BRITEWAVE Therapy 15-30 minutes in the morning and evening to extend your active day length. BRITEWAVE light is specially designed to produce the active hormone, serotonin and suppress melatonin. Melatonin is often called the 'hibernation hormone' and is thought to restrict other hormones that allow you to become pregnant. Your body produces higher levels of melatonin during the winter and when you don't get enough bright light.
• Nighttime light . Use a 75-100 watt table lamp approximately three feet from your bedside. You only have to use this light on days 13 through 17 of your cycle. This will replicate the level of a bright, moonlight night and should regulate your cycle within a few weeks. This level of nightlight will also help control the production of melatonin.

It is obvious that bright light is beneficial to women. Commenting on this problem, Kathryn Rex, Women's Health researcher at UCSD, said, "Women tend to get less bright light than men. They spend more time indoors"

© 2006 Apollo Health, Inc. All rights reserved