Female infertility gets harder to treat as women get older. After 35, it becomes tougher to get pregnant. By 45, natural pregnancy is very rare. For women over 42 who try IVF, the success rate drops to about 3%.

A 2024 study in the Journal of Clinical Medicine looked at whether red light and near-infrared (NIR) photobiomodulation (PBM) could help. Three women between 40 and 43 years old, all with unexplained age-related infertility, received PBM light therapy. All three got pregnant and had healthy babies.

The sample size is small, so more research is needed. But the results are worth paying attention to. This article explains what the study found, how infrared light therapy works inside the body, and what it might mean for women looking at fertility treatment options.

Key takeaways  on red and near-infrared light fertility

1. All three women had healthy babies after PBM light therapy. These women were 40-43 years old and had histories of miscarriage, failed IVF, and molar pregnancy. Red and near-infrared laser or LED treatment came before each successful pregnancy.
2. Infrared light therapy improves fertility by boosting cell energy. PBM raises ATP levels inside cells. ATP is the energy that eggs need to grow, divide, and develop into healthy embryos, especially in females over 35.
3. Using multiple wavelengths worked better than using just one. The multiwavelength approach combined red and NIR light (600-1000 nm) to reach deep into pelvic and reproductive tissue.
4. No side effects showed up during any treatment. Women received between 5 and 21 sessions, either weekly or every two weeks, with zero safety problems.
5. PBM paired with IVF made embryos better. One patient had her best-ever IVF cycle after 17 PBM sessions. She produced six high-grade Day 5 blastocysts, more than double what she got before.

Red light therapy targets mitochondrial cells to help with fertility

Here is how PBM light works. Red and near-infrared light go through the skin and reach the mitochondria inside your cells. Mitochondria are the parts of cells that make energy. When the light hits a protein called cytochrome c oxidase, the mitochondria start making more ATP.

Why does this matter for fertility? Egg cells have more mitochondria than any other cell in the body. As women age, those mitochondria slow down. Less energy means lower egg quality, more DNA damage, and weaker embryos. Light therapy helps by giving those mitochondria an energy boost, improving egg quality from the inside out.

In the study, laser therapy was applied through the skin at about 4-5 cm deep. The treatment targeted the ovaries, uterus, lower back, and cervical spine. Near-infrared light may help support ovarian mitochondria by raising ATP levels and lowering oxidative stress in reproductive cells.

Near-infrared light therapy supports females with age-related infertility

All three women in this study had been trying to get pregnant for at least two years. They had dealt with multiple miscarriages, failed IVF cycles, non-viable embryos, and one molar pregnancy. Standard reproductive treatment had not gotten them pregnant.

After PBM treatment, things changed. Case 1, a 41-year-old, produced three genetically normal embryos from two egg retrievals and had a healthy baby at 42. Case 2, age 40, finally got a working embryo transfer on her fifth IVF cycle after adding PBM. She had a healthy boy at 41.

Case 3, a 42-year-old who had been through five failed IVF cycles, had her best retrieval ever after 17 PBM sessions. She then got pregnant naturally and had a healthy boy at 43. A larger 2019 study by Grinsted backed this up. About 65% of 400 women with infertility got pregnant after PBM.

Laser and LED photobiomodulation improve reproductive treatment outcomes

The study used two different PBM devices. The first was an Omega XP LED cluster with 60 diodes and five wavelengths (660, 810, 850, 880, and 940 nm). The second was a K-Laser, a Type 4 laser with four wavelengths (660, 800, 905, and 970 nm). Both sit inside the therapeutic window of 660-1200 nm used in photobiomodulation.

The LED gave lower power over longer sessions (30 minutes each). The laser gave higher power in shorter sessions (about 21 minutes each). Both approaches led to positive results. This suggests that using multiwavelength light matters more than which specific device you pick.

NIR PBM research goes back to 1996, when Ohshiro first used laser therapy on severely infertile Japanese women. That study found a 22.3% pregnancy rate among 701 women who had an average of 9 years of failed reproductive treatment. The 2024 study builds on that work with a newer multiwavelength protocol that targets more tissue penetration points.

Infrared light therapy has shown great success in clinical studies

Red light therapy was studied in several different settings. Grinsted’s 2019 study reported a 66% pregnancy rate with PBM treatment lasting 1-3 months. Ohshiro’s 2012 study showed that 21.7% of severely infertile women got pregnant after laser therapy.

The science behind it is pretty clear. PBM helps grow new blood vessels by raising levels of a protein called VEGF. More blood flow to reproductive organs means better oxygen and nutrients for eggs. PBM also calms inflammation by turning on anti-inflammatory signals and turning down harmful ones. It helps repair tissue in the pelvic region, making the body a better place for an embryo to attach and grow.

Huang et al. (2011) found that women who got both PBM and IVF had higher pregnancy rates than women who did IVF alone. This was the most visible in women past their late 20s. For women nearing 40, the combined approach did the most to improve fertility status compared to IVF by itself.

Red light and infrared therapy may also support sperm quality and motility

This study focused on female infertility, but PBM research covers male infertility too. Near-infrared light significantly increased sperm energy in lab studies by helping mitochondria work better inside sperm cells. Infrared light studied in animal testing showed better sperm motility and quality, suggesting PBM may improve fertility status for both partners.

Improving sperm quality through PBM light adds another layer to fertility treatment. When both the man and the woman get help, the chances of getting pregnant go up. Hormone balance and cell health in both reproductive systems respond to photobiomodulation.

Frequently asked questions about infrared light and fertility

Is red light therapy good for infertility?

The research so far says yes, it can help. The 2024 Phypers et al. study showed that multiwavelength red and near-infrared light therapy led to healthy babies in all three women tested. Each of these women had been dealing with unexplained age-related infertility for years. PBM works by raising ATP levels in mitochondrial cells, which directly helps eggs grow and develop into strong embryos. Grinsted’s larger study of 400 women found a 66% pregnancy rate. Bigger controlled studies are still needed, but the data makes a good case for trying PBM alongside regular treatment.

What are the top three causes of female infertility?

The three biggest causes are tuboperitoneal disease (which affects 25-35% of infertile women, usually from pelvic inflammatory disease), endometriosis (found in 31% of infertile women based on a 2021 review), and age-related ovarian decline. As women get older, their eggs drop in both number and quality because of DNA damage, mitochondrial problems, and errors during cell division. These factors make it harder to get pregnant after 35 and lower IVF success rates. Red and near-infrared laser therapy tries to fix the cellular side of aging by giving reproductive cells more energy to work with.

Can an infrared sauna help with infertility?

Infrared saunas and clinical photobiomodulation are not the same thing. Saunas use heat. PBM uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light aimed right at your body’s tissue, without heating it up much. The therapy works because a protein in your cells absorbs the light and turns it into energy. Merhi et al. (2021) studied ozone sauna therapy with electromagnetic pulses for endometriosis and saw some benefits, but infrared saunas on their own have not been tested for improving egg quality or getting pregnant. For targeted help with fertility, clinical-grade LED or laser devices at 600-1000 nm aimed at the pelvic area are what the studies actually back up.

How often should you use red light therapy for fertility?

It depends on your situation. In the 2024 study, each woman got a different schedule. Case 1 had six LED sessions over five weeks before her first egg retrieval. Case 2 had five laser sessions over two weeks during her IVF cycle. Case 3 had twelve sessions spread across three months. The researchers said every plan should be fitted to the person. If you want to try red light therapy for fertility, talk to someone who knows PBM well. They can figure out the right number of sessions, wavelength, and tissue penetration depth for your body.

Where should red light therapy be placed for fertility treatment?

The study placed PBM on several spots: the lower belly in a triangle shape over the ovaries and uterus, the area around the belly button (to help gut health, which affects the reproductive tract), the lower back from L3 down to the sacrum (reaching the back of the uterus), and the upper spine from C1 to T1 (covering nerves to the thyroid and the vagus nerve). They also treated lymph nodes near the groin and collarbone. This follows a method called the “proximal priority technique,” which targets the brain’s hormone control center so it sends better signals down to the reproductive system.

Take the next step toward better reproductive health

The evidence for red and near-infrared light therapy in reproductive medicine keeps growing. Larger controlled studies are still needed, but results from the 2024 case series and earlier research show that PBM can help with egg quality, embryo growth, and pregnancy rates in women who have struggled with age-related infertility.

At Ritual Acupuncture, we use evidence-based therapies to support your fertility goals. If you are looking at ways to add to your current reproductive treatment plan, our team can help you figure out whether infrared light therapy makes sense for you.

Book an appointment today to talk about how red light therapy, photobiomodulation, and other options can support your path to getting pregnant. Call us or visit ritualacupuncture.com to set up your consultation.

Source: Phypers, R.; Berisha-Muharremi, V.; Hanna, R. (2024). 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. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13, 7101.