DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may get a commission if you decide to purchase something through my links at no cost to you. Please read my Disclaimer for more info.
DISCLAIMER: This post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding you or your baby’s health. Please read my Medical Disclaimer for more info
Many of our household products and personal care products contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals can also be found in the air, soil, water, and our food.
Your endocrine system contains your gonads (reproductive glands) and all other hormonal glands in the body. These glands work with your hypothalamus and pituitary gland to create a chemical (hormonal) messenger system.
Studies have found that EDCs have adverse effects on the body’s functioning, including male and female reproductive systems. Studies also have shown that EDCs can negatively impact your fertility.
What are Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals?
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals mimic or block male and female sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone).
This can cause changes in hormone levels, decreased sperm and egg quality, damage to the DNA in sperm, longer menstrual cycles, taking longer to conceive, increased risk of miscarriage, and possibly earlier menopause.
Research also shows that EDCs are present in 95% of people tested and that infertile people have higher levels of EDCs. People exposed to high levels of some EDCs through their work have an increased risk of fertility difficulties.
Among couples who use assisted reproductive technology to conceive, higher levels of some EDCs decreases chances of conceiving.
What Types of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Are There?
- Bisphenols (BPA/BPS/BPF)
- Phthalates
- Parabens
- Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
- Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs)
- Pesticides, Herbicides, and insecticides
- Heavy metals (aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury)
Where Are These Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Found?
Bisphenols (BPA/BPS/BPF)
Are widely used in plastic products, lining of cans, and sales receipts printed on paper with a glossy sheen.
BPA interferes with estrogen, testosterone, and thyroid hormone action.
It is now mostly out of some plastics but replaced with the other bisphenols that are not regulated.
There aren’t enough studies on the other bisphenols, but we do know BPA exposure is associated with poor egg quality, lower embryo development, and lower pregnancy rates.
Phthalates
Are used in plastics, nail polishes, fragrance, toys, cleaning products, vinyl, footwear, medical plastic tubing, and is also popular in the cosmetics industry.
Diethyl phthalate (DEP) is the most common phthalate found in cosmetics. It is used as a preserver and a solvent.
The most studied is DEHP, which is high in food packaging and processing. DEHP is associated with lower egg and embryo quality due to oxidative stress.
Women who underwent IVF and had higher DEHP exposure had fewer eggs retrieved, and a lower live birth rate.
Parabens
Are used as a preservative in foods, cosmetics, and personal care products.
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Used in electrical devices and industrial lubricants.
POPs are also by-products of industrial processes such as metal and paper production, wood incineration, or heating plastics.
Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs)
Are widely used in food packaging, paper wraps, pesticides, textiles, and Teflon.
PFCs are long-acting and passed on through the placenta in pregnancy.
They have also been associated with increased time to conceive and alter steroid hormones in adrenal glands and gonads.
Pesticides, Herbicides, and Insecticides
Are found in most people’s garden sheds. They are sprayed on many food products and crops sold commercially.
Heavy Metals (aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury)
Exposure occurs through smoking, air pollution, consumption of contaminated food and drink, contact with petrol, industrial, and household products.
Aluminum is also very commonly found in conventional deodorants. And medical research shows that aluminum from antiperspirants can build up in your body, making most conventional deodorants not sound like a healthy option for your overall wellness and fertility.
How Can You Minimize Your Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals?
Your Groceries:
- Minimize microwavable food bought in plastic
- Minimize drinks in cans and avoid canned food. And switch canned foods for boxed food when possible.
- Buy organic foods as much as possible
- Wash all your produce to remove chemicals from the surface
If you can’t buy all organic food for your family, that is entirely understandable!
You can start with the dirty dozen. These are the 12 most contaminated foods, according to the EWG. They include:
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Nectarines
- Apples
- Peaches
- Pears
- Cherries
- Grapes
- Celery
- Tomatoes
- Sweet bell peppers
- Potatoes
In Your Home:
- Use natural beeswax candles or diffuse essential oils instead of conventional candles
- Switch from conventional cleaning products that contain fragrance, phthalate, parabens, ammonium, and other toxins to EWG-certified toxin-free cleaning products.
- Swap your conventional laundry detergent for EWG-certified laundry detergents that are gentle on your skin and great for children and babies.
Also, be sure to ditch the fabric softener sheets that are loaded with harmful chemicals and switch to Organic Wool Dryer Balls! These wool dryer balls are baby-safe, hypoallergenic, and toxin-free.
You can also add a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil scent to the balls before adding to your laundry to dry!
Personal Self-Care Products
- Switch to phthalate and paraben-free cosmetics and hair care products. Check out the EWG app for great options, including EWG-certified personal care products.
I switched to purchasing EWG-certified cosmetics, including many from Mineral Fusion and Rejuva Minerals.
And for my hair, I have started purchasing and using Avalon Organics Shampoo and Conditioner.
- Switch to organic tampons and pads free from fragrance, chlorine, pesticides, and BPA.
I switched from conventional to organic, toxin-free tampons and pads months before I started swapping many more products.
Check out my post about organic menstrual hygiene products here.
Switch to a nontoxic, aluminum-free deodorant. I chose the Native Lavender & Rose Deodorant because I love these scents together! And this deodorant also scored really well on the EWG app for clean ingredients.
• Limit fragrance in products and switch to a non-toxic perfume.
If you’re interested in essential oils, you can even make your own natural perfumes from different oil combinations!
Suppose you enjoy having your nails painted (like myself). In that case, I highly recommend finding some toxin-free nail polishes to minimize even more toxins found in many daily products.
Donate Menstrual Care Products
Menstrual hygiene products are a basic need for all women and should be regarded as a fundamental right.
Lack of access and the cost of buying menstrual hygiene products can add to the list of struggles due to menstrual bleeding.
“Most women in society can identify with having to ‘make do’ with toilet paper or tissue for a few hours when they are caught off guard by the start of their menstrual flow or run out of products. But, the women who participated in this needs assessment are often forced to ‘make do’ all day, for their entire cycle, and often every month”- Anne Kuhlmann, Ph.D.
Here is the link to the assessment/research study mentioned above
In all of my posts where I talk about women’s hygiene products, I will be leaving links to sites where you will have the ability to donate products or cash to help others in need of products if you can and are interested in doing so.
Period poverty is real. And having the ability to purchase organic pads and tampons is fortunate. Check out why I use organic pads and tampons here.
However, I was once one of the women who had to ‘make do’ for months, and it’s important to me to support and help women in all ways possible!
We’re in this together!
Katelyn Lauren
Donate Here:
DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may get a commission if you decide to purchase something through my links at no cost to you. Please read my Disclaimer for more info.
DISCLAIMER: This post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding you or your baby’s health. Please read my Medical Disclaimer for more info
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