The impact of endocrine disruptor chemicals on oocyte/embryo and clinical outcomes in IVF

Abstract

The negative impact of endocrine-disrupting pesticides on human fertility is now a key issue in reproductive health. There are much fewer literature data about the impact of pesticide exposure on women than on men and very few studies of women participating in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) programme. In the present review, we found that (1) various pesticides with an endocrine-disrupting action are associated with poor oocyte maturation and competency, embryonic defects and poor IVF outcomes, and (2) some pesticide compounds are linked to specific causes of female infertility, such as premature ovarian insufficiency, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and endometriosis. IVF participants living in agricultural regions should be informed about the fertility decline, low ongoing pregnancy rates, and elevated risk of miscarriage associated with exposure to high doses of pesticides.

Effects of Supplementation with Natural Antioxidants on Oocytes and Preimplantation Embryos

“…Studies with less methodological heterogeneity along with larger human trials are necessary to define the role of natural antioxidants, alone or in combination, as supplementation among women undergoing infertility treatments. Another important aspect that should deserve more consideration relates to the potential protective role of natural antioxidants against endocrine disruptors-induced oxidative stress [ 124 , 125 ].…”

Reproductive Health Risks Associated with Occupational and Environmental Exposure to Pesticides

“…These populations offer opportunities for disentangling "critical windows" of biologic vulnerability for infertility that are infeasible in populations conceiving spontaneously, including the collection of highly invasive biospecimens, such as ovarian follicular fluid. A recent narrative review suggested deleterious impacts on oocyte maturation, oocyte fertilization, embryo development, and ultimately live births associated with pesticide exposure [29].…”

“…Women who reported indoor residual pyrethroid spray-ing had 25% lower AMH concentrations compared with women who reported no spraying, although there was only limited evidence for associations with DDT spraying. Prior reviews have suggested links between pesticide exposure and ovarian toxicity leading to female infertility, including premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), menstrual problems and altered sex steroid hormone synthesis [29,[36][37][38][39], although the effects were likely dose-dependent and agent specific [40], and varied with the timing of the exposure [41].…”

Endocrine Disruptor Compounds—A Cause of Impaired Immune Tolerance Driving Inflammatory Disorders of Pregnancy?

“…Dysregulated hormone synthesis and signaling in reproductive tissues, and systemically in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, thyroid, and other tissues influencing reproductive function, converge to have substantial consequences for sexual maturation and fertility (39)(40)(41). Emerging evidence indicates that sensitivity to EDCs is modulated by age and a range of environmental, lifestyle, and genetic factors that can exacerbate the impact of EDCs on reproductive health (3,42,43).…”

“…In particular, prenatal effects of EDCs are linked with later life incidence of reproductive conditions including polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and reproductive cancers (9). In an IVF setting, women exposed to certain pesticides appear more likely to exhibit defects in oocyte maturation and developmental competence, leading to impaired fertility, embryonic defects, and poor IVF outcomes (41,45).…”