Environmental factors can impact our health and lead to systemic inflammation over time. We discuss how chronic inflammation affects fertility, and how natural medicine, red light photobiomodulation therapy and nutrition can help support health optimisation for fertility at any age.
What is chronic inflammation?
A paper by Gemma Fabozzi et al. in 2022, discusses the effect of chronic inflammation in fertility.
A correct inflammatory response from injury or illness, consists of three main steps: 1. the acute inflammatory response – the production of inflammatory mediators (e.g., cytokines) and the elimination of pathogens and/or debris; 2. resolution – the removal of inflammatory stimuli, and the influx of monocyte-derived macrophages to heal; and 3. post-resolution – the influx of adaptive immune cells, the re-assembly of tissue-resident macrophages and dendritic cells, and the establishment of adaptive immunity.
These 3 phases restore the functional homeostasis and the transition from innate (rapid, non-specific inflammatory response) to adaptive (more rapid and effective response to reinfection) immunity. However, when an incomplete resolution of the initial acute response occurs, a chronic inflammatory status is established, which leads to the persistence of inflammatory triggers, the persistence of inflammatory macrophages, chemokine, and cytokine synthesis/secretion and in the failure to establish adaptive immunity with a persistent level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interferons, and, most importantly, IL-6. In other words, chronic inflammation.
Fabozzi goes on to explain that inflammation has a crucial role in reproduction. Several reproductive processes, such as ovulation, menstruation, implantation, placentation, and pregnancy, depend on inflammatory pathways. Any interruption to these sensitive inflammatory events would contribute to the infertility. Furthermore, increasing evidence suggests that different diseases linked to infertility are also related to chronic low-grade inflammation. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, ovarian physiology, adenomyosis, chronic endometritis (CE) and blocked fallopian tubes are characterised by elevated levels of inflammatory markers and cytokines, elevated pro-inflammatory states and larger production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) which has a direct impact on ovarian viability.
How do epigenetic factors influence chronic inflammation?
‘Epigenetics’ is the term used to explain the various causes in our environment, our lifestyle choices, including what we eat, which affect the way our genes work without changing our underling DNA. Major epigenetic factors include:
- Environment – toxins, plastics and fertilisers are examples of substances in the environment that may contribute to low grade chronic inflammation in the body.
- Lifestyle – lack of sleep, smoking, drinking alcohol and lack of sunlight and exercise are also significant contributors.
- Diet – many studies show the link between nutrition and inflammation, with certain diets playing a significant role in the reduction of systemic inflammation and reproductive health.
- Gut microbiota also play an important role in immunity, metabolism and inflammation.
Light therapy helps resolve chronic inflammation and improve fertility outcomes
Low level laser therapy or photobiomodulation reduces chronic inflammation by delivering specific light wavelengths in the 600-1,000nm spectrum of light to tissues in the reproductive environment. Red light therapy helps to enhance mitochondrial ATP production, boosts cellular metabolism, and reduces oxidative stress. This process of photobiomodulation often has a positive effect on conditions associated with chronic inflammation such as PCOS, endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes, and adenomyosis.
Light therapy is non-invasive and very pleasant – probably the most pleasant treatment within the entire IVF process. Patients describe a state of relaxation and wellbeing, as the body returns to a state of homeostasis and improved energy.
Find out more about the Laser Medicine Ovarian Rejuvenation Programme.
Clinical studies relating to chronic inflammation and fertility
The following studies discuss how chronic inflammation affects fertility and how the application of photobiomodulation therapy using infrared and near infrared light can help reduce systemic inflammation.
Photobiomodulation in Complex Female Infertility Profile: A Case Report with 12-Month Follow-Up and Review of Current Mechanism in Reproductive Photomedicine (Phypers & Hanna 2025).
The case report indicates that a multiwavelength of red and NIR-PBM laser therapy could have positively contributed to a healthy live birth in a female diagnosed with PCOS, endometriosis and a low ovarian reserve – all conditions in which chronic inflammation affects fertility.
The Efficacy of Multiwavelength Red and Near-Infrared Transdermal Photobiomodulation Light Therapy in Enhancing Female Fertility Outcomes and Improving Reproductive Health: A Prospective Case Series with 9-Month Follow-Up (Phypers et al 2024).
Our study demonstrated that multiwavelength of red and NIR PBM improved female fertility and reproductive health and contributed to healthy live births in females diagnosed with unexplained age-related infertility.
Photobiomodulation ameliorates ovarian aging by alleviating oxidative stress and inflammation damage and improving mitochondrial function (He et al. 2024).
A recent study from China found that PBM (4 J/cm2) reduced oxidative stress, inhibited chronic ovarian inflammation, and improved mitochondrial function in aged ovaries, examples of where chronic inflammation affects fertility.
Read more about our Low Level Laser Therapy for Fertility service.
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