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Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: What You Need to Know to Improve Your Fertility

Updated: Jun 13, 2023


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Have you heard of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)? We are exposed to many EDCs on a daily basis through the air we breathe, the food and water we consume, and the personal care and household cleaning products we use in our homes.


Think about it. How many products do you every day? Shampoo, toothpaste, body wash, lotion, cosmetics, dish soap, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, perfumes, plastic food storage containers, plastic water bottles, and the list goes on.


Research has shown that EDC exposure can have negative impacts on your health, such as the increased risk of certain types of cancers, metabolic and cardiovascular disease, cognitive function, and reproductive function impairment (2). Decreasing your exposure to these chemicals can have a huge impact on improving your fertility and over health.


What are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)?


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What are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)?


EDCs are exogenous (made outside the body) chemicals, natural or synthetic, that interfere with and can mimic how hormones naturally function in the body (1). Xenoestrogens, a sub-category of EDCs, mimic estrogen in the body and will bind to estrogen receptors (7). Binding to these receptors blocks normal estrogen activity(7). Estrogen is one of the sex hormones, it is produced by the ovaries and in small amounts by the adrenal glands and fat cells. Estrogen is not only important in female reproductive health, but it also plays other important roles in the body, such as bone health, skin health, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, electrolyte balance, and cardiovascular and nervous systems (6). Xenoestrogens include bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, flame retardants, pesticides, and pharmaceutical agents (diethylstilbestrol, DES) (7)


There are many EDCs but below of some of the common ones that studies have shown can negatively affect both male and female fertility.

  • Bisphenol A (BPA): plastics, thermal coated receipts, food and beverage can linings.

  • Dioxins: bleaching agent; cleaning products, feminine products, paper products

  • Flame retardants: building materials, household furniture, electronics, and textiles

  • Heavy metals: such as arsenic(As), mercury(Hg), and lead(Pb); contaminated food, air, water, dietary supplements, cigarettes, and alcoholic beverages

  • Nonylphenols: laundry detergents, personal care products, automotive, latex paints, and lawn care products (7)

  • Parabens: cosmetics, personal care products, foods, and indoor dust.

  • Pesticides: non-organic crops, treated lawns, pest control, etc.

  • PFAS: aka "forever chemicals"; non-stick cookware, food containers, personal care products/cosmetics

  • Phthalates: plastics, personal care products, cosmetics, and artificial fragrances

  • Triclosan: antibacterial agent; found in personal care and consumer products such as anti-bacterial soap, mouthwash, toothpaste, surgical scrubs and sutures, spray deodorants, air fresheners, and hand sanitizer.


These ECDs are currently being used in products today, but there are some EDCs such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that were manufactured worldwide for industrial use and were banned in the United States in the 1970s, but it still persists in the environment. This means PCBs are still present in the soil and water, which is contaminating the food and water supplies we consume today (5)


How do EDCs impact fertility?

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When I talk about fertility, I am not only talking about getting pregnant, but I am also referring to your menstrual cycle health. In 2015, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology deemed the menstrual cycle the fifth vital sign (4). This is due to the insight menstrual cycle signs and symptoms can give into underlying health conditions.


Due to the nature of EDCs altering the function of hormones in our bodies, they can impair reproductive function. Exposure to ECDs may cause:

  • decreased egg quality

  • decreased sperm count and quality

  • hormonal imbalance

  • negative affect on the gut microbiome

  • altered hormone synthesis

  • changes in hormone metabolism and elimination

These alterations in normal hormonal function can lead to subfertility, infertility, improper hormone production, menstrual cycle abnormalities, anovulation, and early menopause (5).


For example, EDCs can target the ovary, making daily exposure a public health concern Ovulation is an endocrine system-mediated based process, the endocrine system is responsible for hormone production and regulation. In a way, it causes a ripple effect, if the ovaries are targeted by EDCs then that interferes with ovulation, which causes infertility (2). The leading cause of infertility in women is defects in ovulation, 30% of all female infertility cases are attributed to this (2).


After all, ovulation is the main event of the menstrual cycle! It is Menstrual Health: 101, if a woman does not ovulate, the egg can't be fertilized by the sperm, which leads to no implantation and no pregnancy(2). What if you are not trying to conceive? Ovulation is still the main event! If you don't ovulate, the corpus luteum does not form, progesterone isn't produced, and you will not have a true period bleed without ovulating. I know it's a lot! (Stayed tuned for future blog posts on menstrual cycle education.)


Let's not forget about the male component of the puzzle. According to Yale Medicine, "50% of the time there is a male infertility issue." Male infertility had also been linked to exposure to EDCs. Studies have shown negative effects on sperm production, abnormal sperm count, motility, and morphology (3).


Now that you know the impact EDCs can have on both male and female fertility, let's talk about some ways you can decrease your exposure and toxic load.



How to decrease EDC exposure and toxic load?

Okay, so after I gave you a ton of information on how EDCs negatively affect your health (sorry about being a downer). Let's talk about a few resources to help you decrease your exposure.


First of all, you might be asking what the heck does "toxic load" even mean? Toxic load is the number of harmful chemicals or substances our bodies are exposed to in the food, water, and consumer products we use. The toxic load of a product or food is the amount of harmful chemicals or substances present in its contents.


It is extremely overwhelming when you start looking at the ingredients in the products you use! You may feel as though you need a degree in chemistry to know what the chemicals are and if they are harmful. Here are some amazing resources to help you navigate the process.


The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is an organization that works to provide information and research on toxic chemicals and environmental issues that impact your health on a daily basis. They have several resources on their website that will help you determine the toxic load of foods and products you use every day, such as:


They also have an app called "Healthy Living". In the Healthy Living app, they rate over 130,000 foods, personal care, and household products on their toxic load. The app has the option to type in the name of a product or scan the bar code. The scanning option is nice, just scan the bar code of a product and see what its rating is.


Another great app is "Think Dirty" by Think Dirty, Inc. This app is similar to "Healthy Living" in rating the toxic load of products, but it is only for personal care and beauty products. Personally, I have both apps on my phone. I usually check the other if I can't find a product on one app.


These guides and apps take the guesswork out of determining a product's toxicity level. I love them! I started using them about 4 years ago. I knew I wasn't using the most non-toxic products out on the market, but I was horrified when I started looking at the products we were using in our house.


If you are wanting to make a change or take stalk in your toxic load, my advice is to take it one item at a time. If you are running out of an item, look into a lower-toxic option. Download the "Healthy Living" or "Think Dirty" app, they are super helpful when you're at the store and you are looking to swap an item, you just scan the bar code! Imagine if you did a swap for a non-toxic item every week or two, or even once a month. A huge shift could happen!!!!!!!!!


There is a little bit of trial and error when you first start shopping for lower or non-toxic products to figure out which ones fit your household best. Please keep an eye out for future blogs on easy swaps, this will be a guide to easy swaps to non-toxic products that will make a big impact!


Be kind to yourself. Change is hard. Small sustainable changes can add up and will lead to a healthier you.


If you are interested in 1:1 hormonal health coaching for help with menstrual health issues or infertility, please reach out at info@kjdwellness.com


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Thanks for being here and your time! :)

Disclaimer:

Remember: this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.


References:

  1. La Merrill, M. A., Vandenberg, L. N., Smith, M. T., Goodson, W., Browne, P., Patisaul, H. B., Guyton, K. Z., Kortenkamp, A., Cogliano, V. J., Woodruff, T. J., Rieswijk, L., Sone, H., Korach, K. S., Gore, A. C., Zeise, L., & Zoeller, R. T. (2019). Consensus on the key characteristics of endocrine-disrupting chemicals as a basis for hazard identification. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 16(1), 45–57. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-019-0273-8

  2. Land, K. L., Miller, F. G., Fugate, A. C., and Hannon, P. R. (2022). The effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on ovarian- and ovulation-related fertility outcomes. Molecular Reproduction and Development. 2022;89:608–631. https://doi.org/10.1002/mrd.23652

  3. Maric, T., Fucic, A., and Aghayanian, A. (2021). Environmental and occupational exposure associated with male infertility. Arh Hig Toksikol. 2021(72), 101-113. https://doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2021-72-3510

  4. Menstruation in girls and adolescents: using the menstrual cycle as a vital sign. Committee Opinion No. 651. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Obstet Gynecol 2015;126:e143–6.

  5. Rattan, S., Changqing, Z., Chaing, C., Mahalingam, S., Brehm, E., and Flaws, E. A. (2017). Exposure to endocrine disruptors during adulthood: Consequences of female fertility. Journal of Endocrinology. 233(3), R109-R129. https://doi.org/10.1530/JOE-17-0023

  6. Vrtačnik P, Ostanek B, Mencej-Bedrač S, Marc J. The many faces of estrogen signaling. Biochem Med (Zagreb). 2014 Oct 15;24(3):329-42. https://doi.org/10.11613/BM.2014.035

  7. Wang X, Ha D, Yoshitake R, Chan YS, Sadava D, Chen S. Exploring the Biological Activity and Mechanism of Xenoestrogens and Phytoestrogens in Cancers: Emerging Methods and Concepts. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Aug 16;22(16):8798. http://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22168798

  8. Yale Medicine. (n.d.) Male Infertility [Fact Sheet]. https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/male-infertility#:~:text=Roughly%2015%20percent%20of%20couples,is%20a%20male%20infertility%20issue.






 
 
 

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