Red Light Therapy for Fertility: How PBMT Supports Reproductive Health
Red Light Therapy for Fertility: How PBMT Supports Reproductive Health
Fertility is at the root cause of existence—without it, we wouldn't exist. Infertility can be a devastating issue faced by both males and females. While there are treatments available for female infertility, male fertility often remains a "no go" area in conventional medicine.
In the next few minutes, you'll discover research—human studies, animal studies, and clinical trials—on how red light therapy affects sex drive, sexual satisfaction, and infertility in both males and females. Even more interesting: red light therapy has the ability to increase desire, arousal, and orgasm satisfaction in the process of potentially increasing your fertility.
Stay tuned—this is one of the most fascinating applications of photobiomodulation you'll read about.
The Two Things You Need: Desire and Ability
Let's start with the fundamentals. You need two things for successful reproduction: desire to reproduce and the ability for your reproductive elements to function.
A lot of the latter comes down to mitochondrial function—those cellular powerhouses that produce the energy (ATP) required for sperm motility, egg quality, hormonal balance, and overall reproductive health.
When your mitochondria aren't functioning optimally, everything downstream suffers: hormone production, sperm quality, egg viability, sexual desire, and fertility outcomes.
This is where red and near-infrared light come in. Photobiomodulation directly enhances mitochondrial function—and the research supporting its effects on fertility and sexual health is both historical and recent.
Red Light Therapy and Testosterone: The 1939 Study That Started It All
Let's start way back in 1939, where researchers showed that light affected testosterone levels and demonstrated that light was able to increase testosterone levels by 120% when shined on the chest and 200% when shined on the testicular area (1).
Increased testosterone levels increase sexual appetite and desire—fundamental for reproductive success.
This same principle was highlighted decades later by professional baseball player Gabe Kapler when he famously said: "A nice tan on your nuts" (2). He wasn't joking—he was talking about intentional light exposure to the testicular area for performance benefits.
But That's Just One Opinion and a Paper from 80 Years Ago—Is There Anything More Recent?
Valid point. Measurement techniques and scientific standards have changed significantly since 1939, so let's look at more recent examples that show improvements in fertility, sexual satisfaction, and hormonal health—not just testosterone in isolation.
Red Light Therapy for Sexual Desire and Satisfaction in Men
First, let's look at sexual desire and satisfaction. The more desire and satisfaction you experience, the more likely you are to want to reproduce. This might not sound like a major issue, but as many as 25% of males experience lack of desire and arousal at some stage in their lives.
A study of 40 males treated with bright light in the morning for 2 weeks used a simple light box (not even red light therapy specifically). Here's what they found:
"Before treatment, both groups averaged a sexual satisfaction score of around 2 out of 10, but after treatment the group exposed to the bright light was scoring sexual satisfaction scores of around 6.3—a more than 3-fold increase on the scale we used. In contrast, the control group only showed an average score of around 2.7 after treatment."
They also showed an almost doubling of testosterone levels (3).
There are more studies showing increases in desire, arousal, and satisfaction. Increases in libido and improvements in other areas too (if you're a man, you might want to read this Men's Health magazine article about one journalist's experience with red light therapy for testosterone).
My Personal Experience (And Customer Feedback)
I personally use red light therapy, and I can personally say... WOW. I didn't test my testosterone levels beforehand, but libido, orgasm quality, and other areas are pleasantly improved.
In the interest of fairness, I have customers report back to me about increased libido—including one female customer. Make of that what you will, as these are anecdotal reviews, but the pattern is consistent enough to be noteworthy.
It's Not Just Men Who Need the Light: Red Light Therapy for Female Fertility
Women are also profoundly affected by light, and a lack of bright light can affect fertility and menstrual cycle regularity. Increased evening light exposure and variable meal patterns lead to altered menstrual cycles and can decrease fertility (4).
As researchers note:
"Improvements in 'circadian hygiene'—for example, reductions in evening illumination, more regular meal timing, or avoiding rotating shiftwork or schedules that lead to irregular sleep—may all be important remedies for reproductive difficulty."
A simple remedy for reproductive health is routine. Whether you're male or female, improve your routine of eating, sleeping, and light exposure:
- Less light in the evening (especially blue light from screens)
- More light in the morning (ideally natural sunlight or red light therapy)
- Be consistent with meal timing and sleep schedule
SIMPLE TIP ONE: Block the blue light at night, embrace darkness for sleep, and embrace bright light in the morning.
Red and Near-Infrared Light for Sexual Arousal, Desire, and Satisfaction in Both Men and Women
A third study looked at red and infrared light specifically with sexual arousal, desire, and satisfaction in both men and women. The results are shown in the image below.
Participants underwent transcranial photobiomodulation (light applied to the head) twice a week for 8 weeks using both red and infrared light. There were improvements in all three parameters—arousal, desire, and satisfaction—in both men and women (5).
Yes, We've Improved Desire—But Can Red Light Therapy Actually Help Fertility?
The research is promising, if not yet definitive. There are so many factors involved in promoting fertility—hormones, egg and sperm quality, uterine environment, stress levels, metabolic health—but the evidence for red light therapy as a supportive tool is compelling.
Red Light Therapy for Female Fertility: The Japanese and Danish Studies
The main studies to examine are those involving females with "severe infertility" issues. These studies took place in Japan (6) and Denmark and had remarkable success rates for what were considered "severely infertile" females.
In the Japanese study, with an average participant age of 39 years old:
"Pregnancy was achieved in the first part of the trial in 16 patients (21.7% of 74), of whom 11 (68%) achieved successful live delivery. In the extended trial, pregnancy was achieved in 156 (22.3% of 701) with 79 live deliveries (50.1%)."
These remarkable results were achieved with 15-second bursts of red light on the neck area of the participants. There is also anecdotal evidence of increased fertility through more direct application to the abdominal and pelvic areas.
How Does Red Light Therapy Improve Female Fertility?
Red light appears to work through these mechanisms (which, as you'll see, have far-reaching benefits beyond just fertility):
- Stimulating mitochondria to produce more ATP (energy) - Better cellular function in eggs and reproductive tissues
- Improving blood circulation - Enhanced nutrient and oxygen delivery to reproductive organs (see image below)
- Regulating inflammation - Chronic inflammation disrupts hormonal balance and implantation
- Lowering oxidative stress (ROS) - Protects egg quality and DNA integrity
- Softening scar tissue - Improves pelvic and uterine tissue flexibility
- Increasing uterine receptivity - Creates a better environment for implantation
- Regulating the autonomic nervous system and immune system - Reduces stress response and autoimmune interference
- Working synergistically with CoQ10 - CoQ10 is critical for mitochondrial function and egg quality
The image above is taken from study (6), showing increased circulation after sessions of photobiomodulation.
Red Light Therapy for Male Fertility: Improved Sperm Quality, Motility, and Count
Having just researched this extensively for graphical posts on my Facebook page, I can tell you the papers, the research, and the anecdotes are overwhelmingly positive (8).
Using both human and animal studies, direct and indirect photobiomodulation can improve sperm quality, motility, and endurance (7).
Another study—this time a review paper—showed that sperm quality was markedly improved and demonstrated improvements in other ailments that can affect sperm and sexual desire, like prostatitis.
Not only are the sperm superior in quality after photobiomodulation—the sperm count increased in number as well.
How to Use Red Light Therapy for Fertility Support
If you're exploring red light therapy to support fertility, here are practical guidelines:
For Men:
- Direct testicular exposure: 5-15 minutes at 15-30cm distance from a red light therapy panel (660nm + 850nm)
- Frequency: 3-5 times per week
- Timing: Morning or early afternoon (avoid evening to maintain circadian rhythm)
- Combine with: Bright morning light exposure for circadian support
For Women:
- Neck/thyroid exposure: 15-30 seconds to 2 minutes (as used in Japanese study)
- Abdominal/pelvic exposure: 10-20 minutes at 20-30cm distance
- Frequency: Daily or every other day
- Timing: Morning preferred; avoid late evening
- Combine with: Circadian hygiene (dark nights, bright mornings), regular meal timing
For Both:
- Improve circadian rhythm: Reduce evening light, increase morning light
- Optimize nutrition: CoQ10, antioxidants, healthy fats for hormone production
- Reduce stress: Red light helps regulate autonomic nervous system
- Be consistent: Results build over weeks to months, not overnight
Why Red Light Therapy Works for Fertility: The Mitochondrial Connection
All of these fertility benefits trace back to one fundamental mechanism: mitochondrial function.
Eggs and sperm are among the most metabolically active cells in the body. They require enormous amounts of ATP to function, mature, and fertilize successfully. As we age or experience stress, mitochondrial function declines—and so does fertility.
Red and near-infrared light (660nm and 850nm) are absorbed by cytochrome c oxidase in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, directly enhancing ATP production. More ATP means:
- Better sperm motility and endurance
- Higher quality eggs with intact DNA
- Improved hormone production (testosterone, estrogen, progesterone)
- Enhanced uterine environment for implantation
- Better overall reproductive tissue health
This is why photobiomodulation shows promise across both male and female fertility—it addresses the root cellular mechanism.
The Safety Profile: Pain-Free and Side-Effect Free
As the Japanese researchers noted in their fertility study:
"LLLT is a pain-free and side-effect free modality which could give hope to the increasing numbers of older females with infertility." (6)
Red light therapy for fertility is:
- Non-invasive
- Pain-free
- No reported side effects in fertility studies
- Can be used alongside other fertility treatments
- Supports overall health and well-being
Conclusion: Red Light Therapy as a Fertility Support Tool
These studies demonstrate red light therapy's ability to improve fertility in a completely safe setting. Photobiomodulation may well be worth exploring if you're concerned about your sexual desire, reproductive health, or fertility outcomes.
The evidence spans:
- Increased testosterone and sexual desire in men
- Improved sperm quality, motility, and count
- Enhanced sexual satisfaction in both men and women
- Significant improvements in female fertility, even in "severe infertility" cases
- Better circadian rhythm support for hormonal balance
Whether you're actively trying to conceive, supporting your reproductive health, or optimizing your hormonal function, red light therapy offers a research-backed, non-invasive approach worth considering.
Ready to explore red light therapy for fertility support?
Explore our red light therapy panel collection designed with the proper wavelengths (660nm + 850nm) for reproductive health support.
Questions about protocols or which device is right for your needs? Contact me—I'm here to help.
References:
- Myerson, A. Influence of ultraviolet radiation on excretion of sex hormones in the male. Endocrinology 1939;25:7-12.
- https://deadspin.com/gabe-kaplers-advice-to-baseball-players-get-a-nice-tan-1724025612
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160918214443.htm
- https://www.endocrinologyadvisor.com/home/topics/androgen-and-reproductive-disorders/light-therapy-may-hold-promise-as-fertility-treatment/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6382556/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3944482/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15838719/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29806585/
Disclaimer: All views in the article above are for information purposes only and are not intended to diagnose or treat specific medical conditions. If you're experiencing fertility challenges, consult with a qualified healthcare provider. Red light therapy should be considered as a complementary approach alongside appropriate medical care.
