From Dr. Lauren Deville - Naturopathic Doctor

Image by Steffen Erbe from Pixabay

I wrote here about melatonin production not just from the pineal gland, but also inside of individual cells, and specifically inside the mitochondria.

In a nutshell, this cleans up oxidative stress right where it’s needed, enabling more optimal mitochondrial function, which has wide-ranging implications.

This means, among other things, improved fertility, for both men and women.

PCOS and MelatoninIn women with PCOS, this study shows that 6 months of treatment with melatonin restored normal menses and ovulation, balancing androgenic hormone levels, LH and FSH ratios.

Melatonin has in general been shown to regulate and balance LH and FSH, the hormones in the pituitary that regulate estrogen and progesterone production, as well as prolactin, which (if excessively high) will suppress ovulation. In many cases, women with PCOS experience estrogen dominance, and melatonin also helps to block estrogen overproduction.

Melatonin can even be synthesized inside the follicles themselves, where it reduces follicular cell death, probably because of its strong antioxidant capabilities.

Melatonin positively influences embryonic implantation, and helps to maintain the placenta once implantation has occurred.

Melatonin and Egg QualityAdvanced maternal age leads to poorer egg quality, largely due to increased oxidative stress.

This study shows that the combination of melatonin and myoinositol improves egg quality, and increases pregnancy and implantation rates. This study likewise shows an increase in egg quality and concentration, and more balanced hormones with melatonin treatment.

Melatonin and EndometriosisThis study shows reduced pain after 8 weeks of melatonin treatment in women with endometriosis, corresponding to a healthier endometrium.

This was dose-dependent, however: too much melatonin was toxic to the follicles and lead to amenorrhea (no menses at all).

This is yet another example of hormesis at work: if some of a particular substance is good, more is not necessarily better. The dose makes the poison (or the medicine).

Melatonin and Male FertilityMelatonin also influences male fertility, regulating the health of the cells that produce sperm, and improving sperm’s ability to penetrate the egg, if otherwise impaired by poor mitochondrial function. Melatonin and inositol are also a winning combination when it comes to semen quality, improving antioxidant concentration and reducing oxidative damage to sperm DNA.

But, this too is dose dependent: both too much and too little are problematic.

The UpshotFor those suffering from reproductive issues, moderate melatonin supplementation (at bedtime) can be beneficial, if it’s well tolerated. However, as mentioned in the previous article, it’s possible to improve cellular melatonin production without supplementation, too—just by spending more time in the sunlight, or with infrared therapies.

Melatonin and Fertility