Welcome to our new article about Melatonin and its effect on fertility.
As all we know that oxidative stress affects all cells in the human body and can significantly impact male and female fertility. And new Research confirms that oxidative stress is involved in many reasons for infertility, such as endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, and fibroids.
However, what if I can say something you can boost your antioxidant capacity far stronger than any other supplements?
Yes, our article about it. It’s called “Melatonin.”
On the other hand, Melatonin is quickly becoming more popular because of its many benefits, including protecting against oxidative stress and promoting mitochondrial health.
In this article, we will cover Melatonin and fertility, and more. Stay tuned.
What Can Impact Our Fertility?
Many factors can impact our fertility. However, there are some things more than that such as genetic structure and DNA.
Some of the most common factors that can affect our fertility include:
- Age
- Lifestyle
- Diet
- Environment
- Stress levels
Studies have found that men with low melatonin levels have lower sperm counts and mobility and Melatonin deficiency are more likely to be infertile and have less potent sperm than other men.
In fact, Melatonin regulates testosterone secretion in animal studies. Melatonin has been found to promote male reproductive performance in mammals.
Stress Can Cause Inhibit Testosterone And Sperm Quality
As we heard chronic stress can affect our health. However, chronic stress has been shown to cause hormonal changes that can affect the production of sperm and testosterone levels by activating inflammatory cytokines. ( such as interferons (IFN), interleukins (IL), lymphokines, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) This can lead to infertility in men.
Another reason is that the Stress hormone “Cortisol” could potentially suppress the production of testosterone and Melatonin. This also leads to an increase in the production of estradiol (another reason your body may have a higher concentration of the aromatase enzyme.) which is a female hormone that can inhibit sperm production.
There are certain things you can manage your stress level stress by using relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and physical activity.
However, the most important one for stress regulation is the high-quality sleep promoted by the Melatonin hormone. Why? Because Melatonin counteracts cortisol.
Here Are The Two Ways Melatonin Affects The Fertility:
- Sleep Quality: The quality of your sleep directly impacts your mental health, cognitive function, and physical health. It also affects our Mitochondrial Functions and other enzymes for sperm mobility and health.
- Mitochondrial Biogenesis: The better sleep you have, the better you will experience energy by boosting Mitochondrial Biogenesis, and eventually, that leads to better fuel of sperm cells, as well as overall health.
The other important factors are that Melatonin deficiency can also lead reduce Neurogenesis and BDNF production in the Hippocampus area, which causes anxiety and depression.
Anxiety and depression also affect our overall cell health middle to long-term for sure. This is huge because the more you have anxiety and depression, the more likely you will experience attractive negative habits such as alcohol, smoking, and even drugs, making it worse for fertility.
Related: Why is BDNF Protein Crucial For Depression And Anxiety?
Impotence And Melatonin Research
Melatonin Deficiency might lead to erection problems by facilitating excessive oxidative stress and reducing the antioxidant capacity.
However, the number of free radicals could affect our sperm quality and mobility by creating inflammation. (interleukins (IL), lymphokines, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)
For women, Melatonin blocks the activation of estrogen receptors for DNA binding.
Inhibiting estrogen receptor activity can interfere with the development of breast cancer cells and prevent them from growing into tumors. This means Melatonin is also that they important for the prevent breast cancer.
Age-related infertility is the inability to conceive a child due to the woman’s age. It is caused by a decrease in fertility with age.
The main cause of this type of infertility are:
- Ovarian aging and decreased follicle production,
- Decreased ovarian response to hormonal stimulation,
- Uterine changes and decreased uterine blood flow.
Optimizing Melatonin has anti-aging properties because Melatonin enhances SIRT3 activity the same as Fasting, and it can be helpful for age-related fertility decrease.
Research showed that Melatonin improves age-related fertility decline and attenuates ovarian mitochondrial oxidative stress in women as they age.
This could be because it has antioxidant properties, protecting mitochondria from oxidative damage and causing cells to die, leading to infertility.
Long-term treatment with melatonin prevented aging-associated oxidative stress in the ovarian mitochondria, as assessed by the recovery of GSH levels and GSH/GSSG ratios.
How Can We Boost Fertility Simple Ways?
There are many ways to boost your fertility; the most important one is Mitochondrial Health and inflammation balance.
- Fasting: There are many fasts, including intermittent Fasting and time-restricted eating. Intermittent Fasting is an eating pattern where you cycle between periods of eating and Fasting. Fasting can reduce the activity of free radicals and support AMPK, a key regulator in cellular energy metabolism, eventually boosting Mitochondrial and sperm health.
- Limit Omega-6 Intake: The average person should not exceed 3-6 grams of Omega-6 per day, and the best way to minimize the intake is by eating more Omega-3 foods. Excessive Omega-6 can cause damages cells and blood.
- Wim Hof Techniques: Wim Hof Techniques can naturally reduce levels of proinflammatory mediators TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8. People report better feelings after WHB.
- Minerals: Minerals can help balance hormones, detoxify the body and produce hormone-like substances that stimulate fertility. Bor, Zinc, Selenium, Iodine, and Magnesium are important for fertility.
Note: Fasting can also help support chronic diseases such as diabetes and epilepsy and involve the GUT Line repair process with modulating inflammation in the body.
Additional knowledge: Melatonin works synergistically with vitamin D to optimize mitochondrial function and fertility. It also enhances vitamin D signaling and protects sperm from oxidative stress
How Does Melatonin Potentially Affect Fertility Compared To Other Supplements Or Medications?
| Supplement | Potential Effects on Fertility |
|---|---|
| Melatonin | Some studies have suggested that melatonin may have a positive effect on fertility.(You can check on articles) and Melatonin improves ovarian function and increases the chances of successful fertilization. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings. |
| Zinc | Zinc is an essential mineral that plays a role in fertility(sperm and hormone production) for both men and women. In men, zinc is necessary for the production of healthy sperm mobility, and low levels of zinc have been associated with reduced sperm count. In women, zinc is involved in ovarian function and may improve the chances of successful fertilization. |
| L-carnitine | Studies have shown that it can enhance sperm quality and increase the likelihood of fertilization in males, as well as improve ovarian function and increase the chances of pregnancy in females |
| Vitamin B12 | B12 deficiency(you should need to check) can lead to fertility problems for men and women. Men may experience decreased sperm production and motility, while women may struggle with ovarian function and successful egg implantation. |
| Folic acid | There are research showed that getting enough folic acid. It’s important for the proper development of a fertilized egg and may increase your chances of a successful pregnancy. |
Anti-Inflammatory Supplements For Fertility
Also, you can use the natural anti-inflammatory supplements turmeric, ginger, and Polyphenols to protect cells from environmental damage.
People who want to improve their fertility or prevent future infertility should take these supplements.
- Curcumin
- Ashwagandha
- Black Tea Polyphenols(Gut Health)
- Vitamin C
These anti-inflammatory supplements can really effective if combined with those Regular Fasting, and the proper amount of Melatonin. Eventually, these combinations and lifestyle changes lead to better libido and sperm health.
How much Melatonin Should I Take For Fertility?
It really depends on. The recommended dose of Melatonin for most adults ranges from 0.5 mg to 5 mg nightly but may vary depending on the condition being treated. Most of the time, people use 0.5 mg for sleep, however, fertility is another topic and it might need a little bit more.
The good news is that melatonin is most of the time safe compared to other supplements.( at least 12 months showed a safe) However, there is more research needed to confirm long-term usage it safe.
Related: Why Is Melatonin Important For Well-Being, Anxiety, And Depression?
Outline
Sleep is fundamental for our species. When we get good quality sleep, we give our body better recovery and alter the brain waves as well as reduce the amount of inflammation in our body.
This will help us better understand the relationships between Melatonin and fertility. Remember, our melatonin level is far lesser than our ancestors because of artificial lights and constant exposure to EMF.
So, nowadays, we are losing strong antioxidant like Melatonin, and we are losing our ability that so eventually affect our quality of fertility caused by oxidative stress.