A new study has been released, further increasing the mounting data that toxins in our environment are harming our fertility.  It appears that these chemicals, called perfluorinated chemicals are contained in many common household and other products.  These products accumulate in the body, have a long half-life, and there is a connection between high levels of these in women and those women having difficulty getting pregnant.

It is going to be a long-haul to get a definitive, well-done scientific study done on this subject, as there as so many variables to control when it comes to fertility.  But, the connection does seem to be there and it makes sense.   These chemicals are found in food packaging, dental floss, shampoos, and non-stick substances (cookware and ScotchGard.)   An example of this would be the grease-proof wrappers for hamburgers at fast-food restaurants.   When these get hot (fresh hamburger), these chemicals are released into the food and then ingested.  The big problem is that these chemicals have a long half-life, as long as eight years.

Some common sources of these chemicals ( are:

PFCs are used to make textiles and leather resistant to water, dirt, and oil.

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

Carpet - PFOS was used until 2002 in the manufacture of 3M’s Scotchgard treatment, used on carpet, furniture, and clothing.

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.

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

You can see that these compounds are contained in many, many products.  I will try to include more on this important subject as I learn more.

Irresponsible!!!

In one word this sums it up!!!  I am delighted at the news that the octuplets were brought into this world safely even though they have a long road ahead of them, I sincerely wish them the best.  However, as for the parent and the doctor responsible for their conception, I have other not so delightful thoughts.  I have read a number of reports and it seems to date that the story is still not entirely clarified. From what I have gathered so far, the mother of the octuplets was 33 years old, she already had 6 children at home and she had no male partner.  I have heard different versions……everything from she treated herself, to she had a frozen embryo transplant of 4 embryos and they all split, to she had a fresh IVF cycle and 8 embryos were implanted.  Either way, any of these versions are frankly IRRESPONSIBLE.  At the age of 33, ASRM or the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, recommends that no more than 2-3  embryos be implanted.  So even if four were implanted and they all split, which is highly unlikely, then that is still too many.  A multiple gestation pregnancy has a lot of risks.  I counsel my patients at length on the risk of multiples when undergoing any form of fertility therapy.  The wonderful thing about IVF is that the number of embryos that land in the uterus can be controlled, as opposed to injectable medicine with intrauterine insemination.  In the United States, we are very fortunate to have the freedom to transfer multiple embryos.  There are several scenarios where I could possibly see a reason to transfer more than 3.  IF the person is over the age of 38, or if the person had failed multiple IVF cycles, or in some cases of recurrent miscarriage where PGD was not performed.  Otherwise it is totally IRRESPONSIBLE !!!  Unfortunately, now that the system has been so blatantly abused, regulations may come about which prevent the freedom of performing multiple embryo transfers, which we are able to perform in the United States.  This will directly impact the people who fall into any of the above mentioned categories who may benefit from multiple embryo transfer.

In my clinic, almost every patient that I have seen over the past week has inquired about this.  I would like to inform anyone who is concerned that we are very responsible here at Red Rock Fertility Center and we practice according to the ASRM guidelines as to the recommended number of embryos that should be transferred.  In addition, we have also structured our financial packages in a way that you are not penalized financially if you choose to transfer less embryos and are not successful.  This allows the patients and myself to make the decision together on what we both are comfortable with.  I went into medicine to help people, not to harm them.  I think whoever was responsible for the creation of the octuplet pregnancy needs to reread the Hippocratic Oath!!!  That’s my opinion on this, hopefully in the upcoming weeks we will learn more details on this subject matter.