A pilot study carried out by Tambre Fertility Clinics in women undergoing assisted reproduction treatments has revealed a widespread exposure to endocrine disruptors, as well as the presence of these compounds, common in everyday products, in the immediate environment where the oocyte matures.
The work, presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) congress, was chosen as an oral communication, one of the most important categories within the scientific program of the meeting. The presentation was given by Dr. Abraham Zavala, medical coordinator of Tambre Alicante and new scientific director of Tambre Fertility Clinics.
Endocrine disruptors are chemical substances capable of altering the functioning of the hormonal system. They can behave by imitating hormones, blocking their receptors, modifying their synthesis, or even influencing the expression of certain genes.
This type of alteration has been linked to various health problems, including fertility difficulties, developmental disorders, changes in the timing of puberty, or metabolic alterations, in both men and women. These compounds can be found in common products such as cosmetics, personal and intimate hygiene products, packaging, plastics, cleaning products, or food-related materials.
The main purpose of the study was to assess the extent to which daily habits can favor avoidable exposure to these substances and to identify modifiable factors that patients could intervene on to reduce it. The study was carried out on 20 women undergoing fertility treatment, aged between 26 and 37 years.
Urine samples were taken from all participants and, in 19 of them, also follicular fluid, the fluid that surrounds the oocyte during its maturation. In addition, a structured questionnaire, administered by nursing staff, was applied to identify possible sources of exposure in daily life: personal care products, intimate and menstrual hygiene, household cleaning, and eating habits.
The data obtained reflect that 100% of the women had at least one detectable endocrine disruptor in urine, which confirms widespread exposure. In three of the cases, levels above reference values were found, reaching three times those considered normal.
"In urine we analyze metabolites, which indicates to us that the exposure is not old or isolated, but recent and probably continuous," explains Ana Ballester, nursing coordinator and principal investigator of the study.
One of the most outstanding results was precisely the detection of these compounds in follicular fluid, the immediate microenvironment in which the oocyte develops. This finding suggests that certain endocrine disruptors are capable of reaching the ovarian environment and opens up new lines of research on the possible effect of environmental factors and daily habits on reproductive health.
Among the findings, biomarkers of DEHP, a compound associated with certain types of plastics, appeared in all urine and follicular fluid samples analyzed. Likewise, the study confirmed the presence of several families of substances, such as bisphenols, PFAS, dioxins, parabens, phthalates, and benzophenones, detected in 90% of the participants in the urine samples.
The work also included an analysis of the ingredients of everyday products declared by the women in the study. According to the results, 84.7% of these items contained at least one component with a potential endocrine disruptor effect.