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The Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals on the Female Reproductive System: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Implications
Original title: The Effects of Endocrine–Disrupting Chemicals on the Female Reproductive System: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Implications
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This review pulls together existing research on "endocrine-disrupting chemicals" — substances found in plastics, personal care products, and pollution that can interfere with your hormones — and how they affect women's reproductive health, from egg supply to fertility to pregnancy complications like preeclampsia. A key concern raised is microplastics, which can act as tiny delivery vehicles that carry these disruptive chemicals into the body. The takeaway: reducing your everyday exposure to these chemicals (in plastics, cosmetics, and certain food packaging) may help protect reproductive health, especially during sensitive periods like pregnanc
The pervasive presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the modern environment poses a significant threat to female reproductive health. This chapter systematically reviews the major classes of EDCs – including bisphenols, phthalates, parabens, persistent organic pollutants, and heavy metals – and their common exposure routes. It delves into the multilevel mechanisms through which these chemicals interfere with the delicate hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, such as by mimicking hormone receptors, disrupting steroidogenesis, and inducing epigenetic modifications. The critical importance of the timing of exposure is emphasized, with evidence linking fetal, childhood, and adult-life exposure to a spectrum of adverse outcomes. These outcomes include disorders of ovarian function and reserve (e.g., diminished anti-Müllerian hormone [AMH], polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS]), uterine pathologies (e.g., endometriosis, fibroids), infertility, poor assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes, and pregnancy complications like preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. The chapter also addresses current scientific and regulatory challenges, such as the low-dose and “cocktail” effects of chemical mixtures, and the emerging role of microplastics as carriers of EDCs. It concludes that protecting female reproductive health necessitates an interdisciplinary approach, combining stringent regulation based on the precautionary principle, individual exposure reduction strategies, and a transition to green chemistry, alongside further mechanistic and longitudinal human studies.
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