14 papers reviewed
Circadian Health, Light Exposure & Sleep for Fertility
2007 · placebo-controlled crossover trial · 1 of 14
Stimulatory effect of morning bright light on reproductive hormones and ovulation: results of a controlled crossover trial
Danilenko KV, Samoilova EA · PLoS Clinical Trials
45 minutes of bright light (4,300 lux) after waking during the follicular phase significantly increased LH, FSH, and follicle size. Ovulatory cycles doubled from 6 to 12 under bright vs dim light. Morning bright light is a promising non-pharmacological ovulation support.
Read the paper ↗2008 · controlled clinical trial · 2 of 14
Oxidative stress impairs oocyte quality and melatonin protects oocytes from free radical damage and improves fertilization rate
Tamura H, Takasaki A, Miwa I, et al. · Journal of Pineal Research
Melatonin at 3 mg/day significantly improved fertilization rates in patients with previously low rates (50% or below). Intrafollicular oxidative stress was higher in women with more degenerate oocytes.
Read the paper ↗2012 · review · 3 of 14
The role of melatonin as an antioxidant in the follicle
Tamura H, Takasaki A, Taketani T, et al. · Journal of Ovarian Research
Melatonin concentrations in follicular fluid are higher than serum — it is the most potent antioxidant in follicular fluid. Melatonin directly scavenges ROS produced during ovulation, reducing oxidative damage to oocytes.
Read the paper ↗2011 · clinical/in vitro · 4 of 14
Protective role of melatonin in progesterone production by human luteal cells
Taketani T, Tamura H, Takasaki A, et al. · Journal of Pineal Research
Follicular fluid melatonin positively correlated with progesterone. Melatonin treatment improved mid-luteal progesterone above 10 ng/mL in 64.3% of women with luteal phase defect vs 18.1% controls. Melatonin shields luteal cells from oxidative damage.
Read the paper ↗2025 · randomized controlled trial · 5 of 14
The effects of melatonin on follicular oxidative stress and ART outcomes in women with diminished ovarian reserve: a randomized controlled trial
Sadeghpour S, Ghasemnejad-Berenji M, Maleki F, et al. · Journal of Ovarian Research
Melatonin 3 mg/day from cycle day 5 markedly enhanced oocytes retrieved, fertilization rates, and embryo quality. Antioxidant capacity increased. Biochemical pregnancy rates significantly elevated vs placebo.
Read the paper ↗2011 · controlled experimental · 6 of 14
Blue light from light-emitting diodes elicits a dose-dependent suppression of melatonin in humans
West KE, Jablonski MR, Warfield B, et al. · Journal of Applied Physiology
Blue light (469 nm) dose-dependently suppresses plasma melatonin. This is the mechanism by which screens and LED lighting at night disrupt the melatonin signal critical for follicular antioxidant protection and progesterone production.
Read the paper ↗1990 · controlled clinical experiment · 7 of 14
Night light alters menstrual cycles
Lin MC, Kripke DF, Parry BL, Berga SL · Psychiatry Research
Sleeping with a 100-watt bulb near the bed during cycle days 13-17 shortened menstrual cycles from 45.7 to 33.1 days with reduced variability. Placebo (dim red) showed no effect. Light at cycle midpoint can regulate cycle length.
Read the paper ↗2023 · prospective observational cohort · 8 of 14
The impact of sleep on in vitro fertilization embryo transfer outcomes: a prospective study
Liu Z, Zheng Y, Wang B, et al. · Fertility and Sterility
Good sleep quality associated with higher IVF clinical pregnancy rates (69.3% vs 65.1%) and live birth rates (50.5% vs 45.7%). Sleep quality was a stronger predictor than duration. Benefits most pronounced in women under 35.
Read the paper ↗2022 · prospective cross-sectional observational · 9 of 14
Women's quality of sleep and in vitro fertilization success
Reschini M, Buoli M, Facchin F, et al. · Scientific Reports
Women with poor sleep quality faced approximately half the likelihood of achieving IVF pregnancy compared to good sleepers, even after adjustment for anxiety and depression. Sleep quality emerged as a significant independent predictor.
Read the paper ↗2014 · systematic review and meta-analysis · 10 of 14
Influence of shift work on early reproductive outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Stocker LJ, Macklon NS, Cheong YC, Bewley SJ · Obstetrics & Gynecology
Shift workers had 80% higher infertility rate (OR 1.80) and increased early miscarriage (OR 1.41 adjusted). 123,403 women across 16 cohorts. Night shift specifically increased spontaneous pregnancy loss.
Read the paper ↗2011 · experimental (animal) · 11 of 14
Circadian control of kisspeptin and a gated GnRH response mediate the preovulatory luteinizing hormone surge
Williams WP III, Jarjisian SG, Mikkelsen JD, Kriegsfeld LJ · Endocrinology
The SCN master clock communicates to kisspeptin neurons via vasopressinergic projections. GnRH neurons respond to kisspeptin robustly in the afternoon but are unresponsive in the morning — a gate mechanism ensuring ovulation occurs within a precise 2-4 hour window.
Read the paper ↗2009 · experimental (knockout mouse) · 12 of 14
Impaired steroidogenesis and implantation failure in Bmal1-/- mice
Ratajczak CK, Boehle KL, Muglia LJ · Endocrinology
Bmal1-knockout mice are infertile despite normal follicles. They have significantly lower progesterone due to reduced StAR expression. Exogenous progesterone rescued implantation — directly linking the clock gene to steroid production and embryo implantation.
Read the paper ↗2023 · multi-site longitudinal observational · 13 of 14
A multi-site study of the relationship between photoperiod and ovulation rate using Natural Cycles data
Shanmugam D, Espinosa M, Gassen J, et al. · Scientific Reports
In 65,240 US women (353,411 cycles) and 10,940 Swedish women, increasing day length significantly predicted higher ovulation rates. Participants also reported increased sexual behavior and libido during longer daylight periods.
Read the paper ↗2019 · research · 14 of 14
Insufficiency of melatonin in follicular fluid is a reversible cause for advanced maternal age-related aneuploidy in oocytes
Various · Peer-reviewed
Reduced melatonin in follicular fluid highly correlates with age-related chromosomal abnormalities in oocytes. This insufficiency is described as reversible, suggesting supplementation may address age-related oocyte quality decline.
Read the paper ↗A paper's presence documents the evidence reviewed; it does not mean Filia endorses every intervention or conclusion.