Trying to fall pregnant? Apparently our technology obsession could be impacting our fertility.

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Trying to start a family? Apparently you might need to start powering-down before bedtime.

New research has found that when we use technology before we go to sleep, we’re tricking our body into believing it’s daytime, which can elicit a range of undesirable physiological responses.

Researchers in the United States and Japan discovered that differences in the light and dark cycles of middle-aged mice had an effect on whether their fertility was improved or decreased.

Basically, it found that the artificial light emitted from our gadgets, and our tendency to use these before bed, alters our sleeping patterns and circadian rhythm. When we spend our nights “plugged in”, we’re disrupting our natural body clock which in turn impacts our reproductive system and fertility levels. (Post continues after gallery.)

When surrounded by artificial light our bodies are tricked into thinking it’s day, and because we’re in a “lit environment”, our brain is sent signals to stay awake, having an affect on our natural hormone release.

Mark Surrey, a fertility doctor at the Southern California Reproductive Center, explained the science of it to Redbook Magazine:

“The idea is that artificial light—whether it comes from your radio, TV, or cell phone—may disrupt the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which controls circadian rhythms. It’s hard to say that having your cell phone on at night will make you infertile, but not getting enough sleep [due to disrupted patterns] can affect your melatonin and cortisol levels, as well as potentially your ability to produce eggs.”

The effect technology has on our fertility also increases with age. Researchers found that as we get older, environmental disturbances have a greater impact upon estrous cycles, meaning the likelihood of getting pregnant is diminished.

The good news? You can make changes that will positively boost your chances of falling pregnant. Switching off your electronic devices earlier has been shown to restore the body's regularity and effectively improve fertility.

Scientists have linked reduced sleep with hormonal changes for over a decade, but only recently has technology's effect on fertility been considered. A 2014 study conducted by Monash University found that switching off your electronic devices earlier has been shown to restore the body's regularity and effectively improve fertility.

Did you know that artificial light can impact fertility?