Too much sun should be avoided, right?  But to go completely without sunlight is not an option either because we need vitamin D. Soaking up on enough sunlight does not only help plants to grow. It also slows down our biological clock and ensures good mood and good overall health. (Just don’t forget the sunscreen, people!)

Sunlight is essential for life and it comes to no surprise that scientists from Novosibirsk in Russia investigated the relationship between female fertility and exposure to sunlight in a study with 129 women. Compared to the winter months, they were able to show that during summer the release of the follicle stimulating hormone increases, the follicle size in the ovaries is significantly larger, the frequency of cycles with occurring ovulation is higher, and the menstrual cycles are shorter. Thus, ovary activity is higher in the summer months and sunlight has a direct effect on cycle length.

The absorption of sunlight through the skin not only has a warming effect. It also leads to the synthesis of vitamin D, which is also important for reproduction. A vitamin D deficiency can affect hormone production, ovulation and sperm production, as it is involved in the synthesis of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and the development of sperm. In general, vitamin D has been linked to a wide variety of health benefits. For women trying to conceive, it appears to be linked to better fertility, as well as a healthy pregnancy. Because of these potential benefits, it may be beneficial to screen all female patients for vitamin D deficiency.

breathe ilo helps you to learn where you are in your cycle. That way, you can get to know your body better and understand your unique cycle ♡