There is no doubt that environmental toxins affect fertility. These unsuspecting chemicals show up in our food, kitchens, work environments, yards, body care products, household cleaners, furniture, air, and water.
They are linked to:
- Infertility
- Subfertility
- Sterility
- Pregnancy Loss
- PCOS
- Endometriosis
- Hormone Imbalance
- Insulin Resistance
- Uterine Fibroids
- Immune Dysregulation
- Autoimmune Disease
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Congenital Disabilities in Offspring
- Fatigue
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Weight Gain
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Respiratory Concerns
- Neurological Problems
Let’s get to know a little more about this chemical soup. While there are many naturally-occurring environmental chemicals that can be toxic such as lead, mercury, arsenic, etc., there are about 150,000 human-made chemicals in use worldwide. I say “about” because an accurate count isn’t possible. Policies regarding production, use, and reporting differ from one country to another.
In the US, there are currently 86,000+ registered chemicals. Of those, 62,000 were grandfathered in and assumed to be safe when the Toxic Substances Control Act passed in 1976.
**However, of the total 86,000+ chemicals, less than 200 have been tested for safety.**
If your jaw is on the floor, gently pick it up! I know. That’s how I felt too.
Unfortunately, chemicals are innocent until proven guilty in the US. Which means they can be produced and consumed by the public without ever being tested for safety.
The “EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has rarely banned, limited the production, or restricted the use of existing chemicals.” This was a testimony statement from John B. Stephenson, Director of the US Department of Natural Resources and Environment before the Committee on Environment and Public Works to the US Senate.
Chemicals Are In Us
Centers For Disease Control – National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals
The CDC has been collecting data on human exposure to environmental chemicals for a long time, and the results are alarming.
You can find all that information in the National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals.
This data, looking at levels of chemicals in urine, blood, and breast milk, helps inform wide-reaching options for reducing continued exposure. One significant change this monitoring resulted in was removing lead from gasoline. Removing lead was a huge win that substantially impacted children.
Environmental Working Group
A 2005 study by the Environmental Working Group tested the umbilical cord blood of 10 newborns and found:
- 287 industrial pollutants
- 180 carcinogens
- 217 neurotoxins
- 208 reproductive toxins
You can find more details related to this HERE and HERE.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
Way back in 2013, ACOG was already expressing their concern that environmental toxins affect fertility, reproduction, childhood development, and cancer in a Committee Opinion paper, titled, Reducing Prenatal Exposure to Toxic Environmental Agents. This opinion paper was then updated in 2021. You can find that HERE.
This is a direct quote from that paper…
“There is emerging evidence linking exposure to toxic environmental agents and adverse reproductive and developmental health outcomes. Toxic exposures related to reproductive and developmental health are primarily associated with infertility and miscarriage, obstetric outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight, neurodevelopmental delay such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and adult and childhood cancer.”
It goes on to say, “Scientific evidence has emerged over the past 20 years that demonstrates that prepregnancy and prenatal exposure to toxic environmental agents can have lasting effects on reproductive health across the life span.”
If you take a quick glance at the medical literature, you will find thousands of research articles on the topic of environmental exposures and their impact on health. This information is not new!
Is anyone asking you about chemical exposure or talking to you about ways to reduce these harmful chemicals in your life? Often the answer is sadly, NO!
Why are environmental chemicals contributing to fertility issues?
Endocrine Disruptors
The short answer to why environmental toxins affect fertility is that many of the chemicals are endocrine disruptors. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are compounds that interfere with the action of hormones and affect endocrine pathways, including the ones involved in the development and function of both the male and female reproductive systems. (Basso C et al. 2022)
The endocrine system includes the following tissues:
- Ovaries
- Testes
- Thyroid
- Parathyroid
- Pituitary
- Hypothalamus
- Pineal
- Adrenals
- Pancreas
- Thymus
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals interfere with our hormones, hormonal balance, and hormonal activity in the following ways:
- Interact (stimulate or block) with hormone receptors
- Interfere with hormone action and control
- Alter hormone synthesis, transport, and metabolism
- Mimic or partially mimic our natural hormones
There are nearly 1,500 identified endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
They can be divided into two categories:
- Persistent Chemicals: This represents those EDCs that have a high potential to accumulate in your body and persist for long periods, potentially forever
- Non-persistent Chemicals: This group is rapidly broken down and excreted in poop, pee, sweat, tears, breast milk, etc.
Although the potential for bioaccumulation is low, non-persistent compounds are causing increasing concern because they are so ubiquitous in the environment. They are found in body care products and plastics, etc. which make exposure constant and chronic. Non-persistent chemicals include compounds like BPA and phthalates.
Unfortunately, extremely low levels of exposure over long periods of time, even at doses considered ‘safe’ by the EPA and FDA can disrupt the endocrine system, leading to physiological disruption and disease. These tiny amounts of EDCs can lead to profound effects on reproduction. However, toxic exposure is often overlooked as a root cause of health-related concerns, especially infertility and subfertility. Please don’t be fooled by the almost constant banter that chemical exposure doesn’t matter.
I can assure you it does!
Just because no one’s asking how environmental toxins are affecting your fertility doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stay curious or that you can’t take matters into your own hands.
Now that you know what endocrine-disrupting chemicals are, stay tuned and check back for these upcoming posts:
- Which Chemicals Are Most Toxic to My Fertility?
- What Can I Do to Reduce Chemical Exposure to Support My Fertility?
You Don’t Have To Do This Alone!
Do you have questions about how environmental toxins affect fertility? If you’re thinking about getting pregnant or struggling with fertility, pregnancy loss, unsuccessful IUI, or IVF consider working with a holistically-minded provider who can offer a thorough assessment of your whole health and provide personalized therapeutic options. Or let me know if you need some 1:1: support! 🙂
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I always hope that my posts are supportive of your journey. There are additional resources and references below. Leave me a comment, check back often, and reach out if you need a partner in this process! Thanks so much for reading.
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XO + baby dust,
Tamara 🙋🏻♀️
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Disclaimer: This website and post include general information about nutrition, health, and fertility. This content is not medical advice. It is not a replacement for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of any health condition or illness. With that said, if the reader or any other person has a medical condition, concern, or illness, they should consult with their personal doctor or another appropriately licensed healthcare provider. The reader should also never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking advice because of something discussed in this information. It is imperative to consult your doctor or another appropriately licensed healthcare provider before implementing any changes to your diet, fitness routine, lifestyle, medications, or nutritional supplements.
Information provided in this document and the use of any products or services related to this document by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Tamara Darragh, ND, DC. Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
