Your Environment & Your Fertility

A small-scale study, recently published in Fertility & Sterility, adds to what we know about a woman's environment and the quality of her eggs.

In "Serum unconjugated bisphenol A concentrations in women may adversely influence oocyte quality during in vitro fertilization," the study authors conclude that, during IVF cycles, as levels of bisphenol A (BPA) rose, the number of fertilized eggs fell.

There is no simple test for BPA that can be administered in clinics. So, as with many things that may impact fertility, the best advice I can give patients is to try and reduce your exposure to BPA.

This Mayo Clinic article - What is BPA, and what are the concerns about BPA? - offers a quick list of things anyone can do to avoid BPA.


For more on this study:
BPA can affect egg quality, study claims