ATLANTA (CBS Atlanta)– Soaking up the sun may increase the chances of getting pregnant by a third, according to a new research.
Daily Mail reports that increased exposure to the sun can help women have babies and that the weather a month before conception is actually the most important time to catch some rays.
Belgian researcher Frank Vandekerckhove took the IVF results of about 6,000 women while researching the correlation between the dates of treatment and weather conditions.
He found although there was no link between the weather and the actual date of IVF treatment, there was a pattern that emerged when looking at one month prior.
Sunshine, temperatures, and clear skies improved fertility treatment results. The research suggests the link between fertility and sunshine was the strongest, increasing IVF success by 35 percent. Vandekerckhove said exposure to the sun a month before conception is likely to help with the maturing of a woman’s eggs.
Researchers attribute this to the raised levels of vitamin D and altering levels of melatonin, which helps regulate a woman’s reproductive cycle.
The study was conducted solely on IVF patients, but researchers say sunshine would likely help women trying to get pregnant naturally too.
“We get bogged down and seduced into thinking that in order to get pregnant we need to be taking various pills, potions and creams to aid our fertility when often all that is needed are the basics; namely, good diet, no smoking, reduction in alcohol, relaxation, sunshine and being happy and positive,” said Professor Charles Kingsland, of the Hewitt Fertility Centre at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, as reported by Daily Mail.
The CDC warns against excessive sunlight exposure and urges protection from ultraviolet (UV) radiation by staying in the shade and using sunscreen for protection.
