Environmental Toxins and Female Reproductive Health

A growing body of research suggests that certain chemicals in the environment are negatively impacting female reproductive health. These substances, called endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), have been linked to an increased incidence of early puberty, fertility disorders, and other reproductive health abnormalities.

In 2012 the US produced 9.5 trillion pounds of EDCs, commonly found in pesticides, plastics, chemical drugs, and even personal hygiene products. Humans are exposed most typically through inhalation, food intake, and direct contact.

Dr. Deanna Minich, PhD, an educator for the Institute for Functional Medicine, says that EDCs “act like estrogen, but they are dysfunctional hormones. . . . They start binding to receptors and upregulating things that perhaps shouldn’t be upregulated.”

Research has shown that exposure to some EDCs correlated with earlier menarche in girls age 12-16 contributed to early menopause in women and is associated with ovarian polycystic syndrome.

One particularly common EDC is bisphenol A (BPA), which has been used in plastic and manufacturing since 1950. Women of childbearing age are heavy users of personal care products, which are known to be a specific source of BPA exposure. Data suggest that exposure to BPA, even at low doses, may result in adverse health effects, particularly among pregnant women.

Alternatives to BPA, such as bisphenol B (BPS), can be found in products labeled “BPA-free.” Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey show BPA and its substitutes may be nearly ubiquitous among the US population. A 2018 study on invertebrates showed evidence that BPS may also disturb the endocrine system.

More research is needed to fully understand the relationship between EDCs and endocrine pathology, but practitioners can educate female patients on how to reduce exposure and eliminate toxicants in order to aid in fertility and improve overall health.