Therapeutics · Supplements and Botanicals
RRM Academy Synopsis
26 of 48 infertile women conceived after darkening their bedrooms
About 5 out of 10 infertile women became pregnant within six cycles of darkening their bedrooms in a pilot study of 48 women who charted their cycles. Darker bedrooms were associated with significantly fewer abnormal cycle findings within six cycles.
Key Findings
- Initially, none (0%) of the 48 women had all cycle parameters normal in any of three consecutive cycles; follicular phase was abnormal in 96%, luteal phase in 64%, ovulation in 58%.
- Twenty-six (54%) became pregnant within six cycles, a rate the paper equates with a fertile non-contracepting population; 15 in the first 3 cycles, 11 in cycles 4 to 6.
- Of 30 women (62.5%) with a previous physician fertility consultation, 25 had infertility procedures; 13 (52%) of those 25 conceived after light elimination therapy (LET).
- Of the 22 women who did not conceive, 15 applied light elimination inconsistently; with that group excluded, the conception rate increased to over 78%.
- In the second study, all 9 mothers with previous miscarriages, advised to apply strict LET during their next pregnancy, had a healthy delivery.
Interpretation
The report describes a pilot study with a before-and-after design. Each woman charted three cycles, then reduced bedroom light for six cycles, and her cycle parameters were compared across the two periods. The 48 participants were enrolled in a Natural Family Planning program over 10 years. The author postulates that light signals reach the reproductive hormones through the pineal gland and melatonin. The author also observed abnormal parameters returning when light sources were reintroduced. The author notes that validation requires well-controlled studies with hormone and melatonin assays.
RRM Context
Restorative reproductive medicine seeks fixable causes of cycle abnormalities and works with the body's own function. Cycle charting makes those abnormalities visible. In this study, each woman's cycle phases were read from her own chart before and after the change in light.
Abstract
Infertility remains a common and often unresolved condition afflicting certain couples. Numerous animal studies have demonstrated that alterations in the light-dark cycle can affect reproduction as mediated by the pineal gland and its hormone, melatonin. To examine whether a similar disruption could affect human fertility, a pilot study was conducted with infertile women enrolled in a Natural Family Planning program.