In our daily quest for cleanliness and beauty, we often overlook the hidden dangers lurking in everyday products found in our homes. Endocrine disruptors, commonly found in cleaning and beauty products, pose a significant threat to our general health and in particular our reproductive health. Let’s delve deeper into this unknown adversary and its profound impact on fertility.
Understanding Endocrine Disruptors
Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that interfere with the body’s hormonal system, mimicking or blocking natural hormones. These chemicals are prevalent in everyday products, including cleaning agents, cosmetics, plastics, and pesticides. A common disruptor you may have heard of is BPA which interferes with estrogen, testosterone, and thyroid hormones.
The Impact on Fertility
Endocrine disruptors can wreak havoc on reproductive health, affecting both men and women. Research suggests a link between exposure to these chemicals and:
- Hormonal Imbalance: Endocrine disruptors can disrupt the delicate balance of reproductive hormones, leading to irregular menstrual cycles, ovulation issues, including stopping ovulation altogether, and decreased sperm quality.
- Reduced Fertility: Prolonged exposure to endocrine disruptors has been associated with decreased fertility rates and increased difficulty conceiving, as well as eggs less likely to fertilize (observed in IVF) and a higher incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in eggs that do fertilize.
- Pregnancy Complications: These chemicals have been shown to lower embryo implantation rates and may increase the risk of pregnancy complications, such as miscarriage and preterm birth.
Recent studies have shown that micro plastics are being found in every human placenta, meaning this issue is impacting babies before they are born.
The concern for future generations is not to be underestimated. Overall health and particularly reproductive health is threatened even before these babies have taken a breath.
Taking Action
Protecting your fertility begins with awareness and proactive measures. Here are some practical steps you can take to minimize your exposure:
- Choose Safer Products: Opt for household cleaners, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, cosmetics, and other personal care products that are free from known endocrine disruptors. Look for products labeled “phthalate-free,” “paraben-free,” and “fragrance-free” at a minimum and try to purchase plant based or natural products instead.
- Remove Plastics: Reducing exposure to plastic, particularly containing BPA or phthalates, begins with removing plastic items from your home, especially your kitchen and not purchasing these items going forward. Common offenders include plastic food storage containers and plastic water bottles and cups which should be removed entirely. Remembering not to heat up food in plastic containers is also key, given the increased chance of leakage of the harmful endocrine disruptors into food.
- Read Labels: Familiarize yourself with common endocrine-disrupting chemicals and learn to identify them on product labels. Avoid products as much as possible containing ingredients like phthalates, parabens, triclosan, and synthetic fragrances.
Endocrine disruptors are a silent threat to our fertility and overall well-being. By understanding the link between these chemicals and reproductive health, we can make informed choices to protect ourselves and our loved ones.
Importantly, find ways to minimise exposure to harmful chemicals without driving yourself crazy on changing every item in your home to the point of obsession.
A good option to get started is ENJO Cleaning Fibres and Skincare.
Let’s create a safer, healthier world for all by choosing products wisely, educating ourselves on the potential harm and pushing for change more widely to completely remove these disruptors from common household items to benefit us all.
Zillah Kisswany
Certified Doula and Fertility Expert
Contact details:
Zillah Kisswany
Email: zillah@seedtosoulfertility.com
Whats app:+971 50 751 6459
Website: https://seedtosoulfertility.com
Discover our ENJO range of sustainable, chemical-free cleaning and skincare products that utilizing advanced fiber technology, these solutions effectively clean surfaces while being environmentally conscious and toxin-free. Perfect for greener, healthier living.
