In our current environment, plastics are everywhere we look, touch, and smell. There are thousands of different types of plastics that infiltrate our water and soil systems. One of the biggest problems with plastics is that they don’t biodegrade. What we currently have circulating in our ecosystem, will be here for many generations to come. This isn’t intended to create fear or anxiety; but it is important to have an understanding of the magnitude of plastic pollution, when talking about the influence of plastics on fertility.

For the last decade, researchers all over the world have begun to track the increasing rates of both male and female infertility. Finding causality in a variety of modern lifestyle and environmental factors. What they have begun to conclude is that exposure to certain plastics decreases the fertility of both men and women. Exposure to the chemicals in plastics is pernicious, and often easily under-emphasized in fertility treatments; as it is not something we can readily smell, touch or taste, so it is often forgotten.

One type of plastic that has been extensively researched and found to have a large impact on the endocrine system, is BPA or Bisphenol-A. BPA is a chemical in plastic that can be found in everything from canned goods and water bottles, to tupperware and grocery receipts. Essentially it is in many products most people use on a daily or even hourly basis.

For women, BPA acts as an endocrine disruptor, impacting our hormonal feedback loops, as well as egg health and development. A recent research article published about the effects of BPA on female fertility stated: “Evidence shows that BPA can interfere with endocrine function of hypothalamic-pituitary axis, such as by changing gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRH) secretion in hypothalamus and promoting pituitary proliferation. Such actions affect puberty, ovulation and may even result in infertility.” (1)

For men, recent studies show that BPA also acts as an endocrine disruptor, lowering sperm count, mobility, and quality. Furthermore, there are other studies that show a correlation with sperm DNA quality, a reduction in sex drive, and impotence. A five year study done by Kaiser, on 500 men at a factory in China concluded: “men with higher urine BPA levels were two to four times more at risk of having poor semen quality, including low sperm concentration, low sperm vitality and mobility.” (2) Needless to say, we are still in the early stages of understanding the complex impact that BPA has on fertility, but as of now, we can confidently conclude that there is a correlation, and it is not positive.

Another harmful group of chemicals found ubiquitously in plastics are, phthalates. These chemicals are widely used, and can be found in (but aren’t limited to) nail polish, cleaning supplies, toys, vinyl, and synthetic fragrance. Phthalates, similar to BPA, are endocrine disruptors. For women, phthalates reduce egg quality, increase oxidative stress, and act as a xenoestrogen (a compound that mimics estrogen in the body) (3).  Xenoestrogenic effects can lead to impaired ovarian function as well as cycle dysregulation. There is also a direct link to high phthalate exposure and recurrent miscarriage. In men, phthalates reduce sperm quality, motility and DNA structure. The impact of these chemical is not limited to fertility, there are many scientists who are seeing direct correlation with exposure and increasing rates of autism and chromosomal abnormalities.

What Can You Do?

Phthalates and BPA are just two examples of plastic chemicals that impact our reproductive health; but there are thousands of others we interact with on a daily basis. In the face of this, we are left with the question of what can we do to support our reproductive health (and the health of future generations)? Below is a list of action steps you can take to reduce your plastic exposure:

• Remove all plastic tupperware from the kitchen, replace with glass or stainless steel

• Buy household products in bulk, and store them in glass

• Avoid plastic wrap on foods, replace with cloth or wax paper

• Replace plastic water bottles with stainless steel or glass

• Avoid styrofoam and foods that are heated in plastic

• Eliminate synthetic fragrance from the home: perfume, cleaning products, nail polish

• Make your own products! There are so many amazing DIY recipes online

• Support local and international zero waste and plastic-free campaigns (see resources)

• Avoid giving children plastic toys; instead try wood, cloth and natural fibers

• Use saunas and steam rooms regularly to detoxify (obviously avoid if you are pregnant)

Although we don’t have the power to change all of the plastic consumption around the world; we can make a big impact in the lives of our families and local communities. In my clinic, I have seen many women with unexplained infertility diagnoses, after significantly reducing their toxic exposure, be able to get pregnant in a fairly short amount of time. Below are some resources if you are interested in continuing to read more about how to reduce you and your family’s exposure to plastics.

Resources:

“Zero Waste Home” by Bea Johnson

“101 Easy Homemade Products for Your Skin, Health & Home” by Jan Berry

https://packagefreeshop.com/

https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/

https://plastictides.org/

https://www.litterless.com/wheretoshop

1) Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2015 Sep; 12(9): 11101–11116.

Published online 2015 Sep 7. doi: 10.3390/ijerph120911101

2) Alleyne, Richar. The Telegraph. Bisphenol-A now linked to infertility. Oct. 28th 2010

3) Fett, Rebecca. It Starts with the Egg. Franklin Fox, 2019