Exposure to endocrine disruptors during adulthood: consequences for female fertility

Abstract

Endocrine disrupting chemicals are ubiquitous chemicals that exhibit endocrine disrupting properties in both humans and animals. Female reproduction is an important process, which is regulated by hormones and is susceptible to the effects of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals. Disruptions in female reproductive functions by endocrine disrupting chemicals may result in subfertility, infertility, improper hormone production, estrous and menstrual cycle abnormalities, anovulation, and early reproductive senescence. This review summarizes the effects of a variety of synthetic endocrine disrupting chemicals during adult life. The chemicals covered in this review are pesticides (organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, and triazines), heavy metals (arsenic, lead, and mercury), diethylstilbesterol, plasticizer alternatives (di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and bisphenol A alternatives), 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, nonylphenol, polychlorinated biphenyls, triclosan, and parabens. This review focuses on the hypothalamus, pituitary, ovary, and uterus because together they regulate normal female fertility and the onset of reproductive senescence. The literature shows that several endocrine disrupting chemicals have endocrine disrupting abilities in females during adult life, causing fertility abnormalities in both humans and animals.

Mercury exposure and its effects on fertility and pregnancy outcome

“…Thus, Hg may induce feminine infertility by increasing the prolactin secretion—analogous to the dopamine effect at the pituitary and midbrain level, with negative effects on galactopoiesis and female genitalia . Xenobiotics such as Hg, xenoestrogens, and synthetic oestrogens are endocrine disruptors present in most commercial foods, plastic products, tap water, plastic water glass, cosmetics, cleaning products, clothes detergents, paints, pesticides and insecticides . Careful identification and reducing of endocrine disruptors, including Hg exposures in everyday life, are essential to protect reproductive capacity.…”

“…19,96 Xenobiotics such as Hg, xenoestrogens, and synthetic oestrogens are endocrine disruptors present in most commercial foods, plastic products, tap water, plastic water glass, cosmetics, cleaning products, clothes detergents, paints, pesticides and insecticides. 97 Careful identification and reducing of endocrine disruptors, including Hg exposures in everyday life, are essential to protect reproductive capacity. An analysis of the relevance between the concentration of toxic elements and reproductive health in women with reproductive disorders has reported that the probability of mature oocytes is oppositely proportional to the Hg concentration in the hair (RR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.70-0.95).…”

Serum Levels of Commonly Detected Persistent Organic Pollutants and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) and Mammographic Density in Postmenopausal Women

“…Additional studies in younger women need to be conducted before excluding POPs and PFASs as risk factors in the general population. The suggestion that POPs may cause reproductive abnormalities in women [45], which is related to breast cancer risk, should also be further studied. Our results are also limited by the relatively small sample size and the inclusion of only non-Hispanic white women.…”

Endocrine disrupting chemicals, 4‐nonylphenol, bisphenol A and butyl benzyl phthalate, impair metabolism of estradiol in male and female rats as assessed by levels of 15α‐hydroxyestrogens and catechol estrogens in urine

“…There is concern about the effects of EDCs on reproductive functions and development, as the classical targets of EDCs are nuclear receptors, including estrogen receptors. EDCs, such as 4‐nonylphenol (NP), bisphenol A (BPA) and butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) (Figure ), are known to mimic estrogen in their actions (Giulivo, Lopez de Alda, Capri, & Barceló, ; Rattan et al, ). However, data on the effects of EDCs on estrogen metabolism in vivo are comparatively scarce.…”

“…& Barceló, 2016; Rattan et al, 2017). However, data on the effects of EDCs on estrogen metabolism in vivo are comparatively scarce.…”