Francisco. Being a clinician with particular interest in reproduction, she has focused her research on human implantation and several factors affecting that process, particularly environmental, and biomarkers of uterine receptivity, as well as endometrial dysfunction in women with unexplained infertility and endometriosis.Abstract This study evaluated the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on human endometrial stromal fibroblast (ESF) differentiation and expression of genes involved in oestrogen metabolism. Human ESF from eight hysterectomy specimens were cultured and treated with 5-100 lmol/l of BPA ± oestradiol or 8-br-cAMP for 48 h. mRNA expression was analysed by real-time reverse-transcription PCR. 8-br-cAMP-induced human ESF decidualization was confirmed by expression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP1) and prolactin secretion. Short-term exposure (48 h) decreased human ESF proliferation (P < 0.04) not due to apoptosis. High doses of BPA significantly induced IGFBP1 mRNA and protein, decreased P450scc mRNA, reversed the 8-br-cAMP-induced increase in HSD17B2 (oestradiol to oestrone conversion) in a dose-dependent manner and down-regulated HSD17B1 expression (oestrone to oestradiol conversion; P 0.03). 8-br-cAMP significantly potentiated this effect (P = 0.028). BPA had no significant effect on aromatase and PPAR c expression. The oestrogen-receptor antagonist ICI had no effect on gene expression in BPA-treated cells, and oestrogen receptor a, but not oestrogen receptor b, was significantly down-regulated by high doses of BPA (P = 0.028). BPA has an endocrine-disrupting effect on human ESF function and gene expression but the underlying mechanisms appear not to involve oestrogen-mediated pathways.RBMOnline