Reproductive health could be affected by everyday chemicals

Environmental health factors could be affecting women's reproductive health, as well as any children that are born. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have released a joint committee opinion today asking for policy changes and greater awareness of the effects of chemical exposure during pregnancy.

Everyday exposure to a variety of chemical components, whether as a result of air pollution, traffic emissions or beauty products, can affect a woman's ability to procreate and affect their unborn child during pregnancy, according to the institutions. 

Infertility in women has doubled since numbers recorded in the 1980s in the US, while men's sperm counts are also at their lowest point ever. It has been found that when children are born, they are already contaminated by around 200 to 300 different chemicals, which could have long-term health effects.  

A review performed of all scientific evidence on this subject for the last 15 years has led to many medical experts agreeing that the large numbers and varieties of chemicals a person is exposed to in their everyday life, is responsible in some part for the decrease in reproductive health. While a number of chemicals can have an effect, reports indicate that endocrine-disrupting chemicals are the main reason behind the increase in infertility. 

These types of chemicals can affect hormone levels by causing the endocrine system to stop functioning as it is meant to. Upsetting these hormones can result in early puberty and a lowering of a person's ability to reproduce. The disruption could also have greater health impacts and everyday chemicals may be contributing to other issues with human health.

As well as the reduction in reproductive health, several other health trends have been identified as being possibly linked to chemical exposure. Incidences of several different forms of cancer have reportedly increased, according to US figures, while asthma levels are also on the rise.

The joint committee opinion could result in a change in policy, which requires doctors to provide more information to patients regarding the impact that chemicals encountered everyday could have on their health and ability to reproduce.