by Exposure to phthalates, a group of chemicals commonly found in household products, has been shown to reduce the likelihood of getting pregnant, according to a study conducted by a researcher at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The study, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, also discovered a correlation between preconception exposure to phthalates and changes in women’s reproductive hormones, as well as increased inflammation and oxidative stress.
Phthalates are widely present in everyday items such as shampoo, makeup, vinyl flooring, toys, and medical devices. Primarily ingested through contact with products containing them, these ubiquitous endocrine disruptors have the potential to impact health. According to a fact sheet released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure to phthalates occurs when food and liquids come into contact with these chemicals.
Lead author Carrie Nobles, an assistant professor of environmental health sciences at the UMass Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences, emphasized that we encounter phthalates on a daily basis and that they are considered endocrine disruptors.
The study examined data from the EAGeR study (Effects of Aspirin in Gestation and Reproduction), a unique preconception time-to-pregnancy cohort of women. The research focused on the effect of low-dose aspirin on live-birth rates and incorporated detailed information on 1,228 participants throughout six menstrual cycles while they attempted to conceive. The women who became pregnant were followed throughout their pregnancies.
Nobles explained that by analyzing the data from this study, her team was able to determine the relationship between phthalate exposure and the time it took to conceive. “There was detailed data for each menstrual cycle, so we had a good handle on the date of ovulation and the timing of pregnancy when that happened,” she said.
Phthalates are metabolized by the body into excreted compounds, which can be identified through analysis of urine samples. The researchers measured 20 different phthalate metabolites in urine samples collected at the start of the study.
The study found that certain parent compounds of phthalates were strongly associated with longer time-to-pregnancy, although a general trend towards delayed conception was observed across all phthalates. As exposure levels increased, the effects on fertility became more pronounced.
Additionally, the researchers discovered that women with higher levels of phthalate exposure also showed higher levels of inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which can lead to organ and tissue damage and ultimately result in disease.
Furthermore, the study revealed that women with increased phthalate levels had lower estradiol and higher follicle-stimulating hormone throughout their menstrual cycles. These hormones play crucial roles in ovulation and the early stages of pregnancy. Nobles pointed out that this hormonal profile, characterized by low estradiol and high follicle-stimulating hormone, is reminiscent of women with ovarian insufficiency, which can occur due to age or other factors, leading to impaired ovulation.
While consumers can try to choose phthalate-free options by reading product labels, the widespread presence of these chemicals makes it challenging for individuals to control their exposure. In Europe, certain phthalates are either banned or heavily restricted, but the United States has no formal prohibitions in place. Nobles highlights that the findings of this research contribute to the growing body of evidence demonstrating the negative impact of phthalate exposure on women’s reproductive health, thereby informing policymakers on the need for regulation.
Nobles suggests that a reevaluation of the regulatory system may be needed to better identify and address significant environmental exposures that impede fertility and healthy pregnancies. “Maybe we want to think differently about our regulatory system and how we identify important exposures that are having adverse effects on whether people can get pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy,” she concluded.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
