Avoiding Products Toxic to Fertility

Everyday, it seems like I get busier and busier, while the age of my patients gets lower and lower.  When I started my OB/Gyn residency at Duke University in 1998, it was rare to see a patient in the clinic under 30.  When I was at Stanford for my fellowship, it became more frequent, and now, after four years of practice here in Las Vegas, it is very common.  Why is this?  It is my opinion that it is due to the toxins that are being released into the water we drink, the food we eat, and the air we breath.  Many government agencies regulate toxins mainly for their ability to be a carcinogen.  Not much attention has been paid to the impact of these chemicals in our environment on fertility.  The problem is that there are many chemicals that people are exposed to on a daily basis, especially at a young age, which have a very bad impact on fertility, both for men and women.

A few years ago, this subject began to come to light with the chemicals that are in plastic water bottles.  Now, a new fertility study has recently come out which has proven that chemicals in our environment are affecting our fertility.  This newly recognized class of chemicals are called "Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)."  The two main PFC's are perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS).  This study found that women with higher levels of PFOA and PFOS had a much more difficult time getting pregnant than the women with lower levels.

Products that commonly include these compounds are:

1.  Textiles and leather resistant to water, dirt, and oil.

2.  Grease-resistant food packaging and paper products, such as microwave popcorn bags and pizza boxes, contain PFCs.

3.  3M's Scotchgard treatment up until 2002, which was used on carpet, furniture, and clothing.

4.   PFOA is used to make DuPont's Teflon product, famous for its use in non-stick cookware.  If Teflon-coated pans are overheated, PFOA is released. teflon frying pan

5.  PFCs are in cleaning and personal-care products like shampoo, dental floss, and denture cleaners.

6.  Packaged foods. Stay away from greasy or oily packaged and fast foods, as the packages often contain grease-repellent coatings. Examples include microwave popcorn bags, french fry boxes, fast food sandwich wrappers, and pizza boxes.

7.  Stain-resistance treatments. Choose furniture and carpets that aren’t marketed as “stain-resistant,” and don’t apply finishing treatments such as Stainmaster to these or other items. Where possible, choose alternatives to clothing that has been treated for water or stain resistance, such as outerwear and sportswear. Other products that may be treated include shoes, luggage, and camping and sporting equipment.

8.  Personal-care products that are made with Teflon or containing ingredients that include the words ”fluoro” or ”perfluoro.” PFCs can be found in dental floss and a variety of cosmetics, including nail polish, facial moisturizers, and eye make-up.

Although disturbing, it is gratifying to note that there are concrete reasons why the prevalence of infertility at younger ages is increasing.  I sincerely hope that the above information is used to make lifestyle changes that lead to the creation of a new and better life.