Some everyday products like plastic containers and scented candles contain chemicals that may affect your fertility. “These chemicals primarily impact egg and sperm quality, which can make it harder to conceive,” says Jennifer Hirshfeld-Cytron, MD, a Chicago-based researcher who is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology as well as reproductive endocrinology and infertility. “While age is still the strongest factor in fertility, chemical exposures are an added layer of concern that we can try to minimize.”
If you’re informed about what these chemicals are and their potential implications, you can decide whether to avoid them to the best of your ability.
1. Bisphenol A
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical produced for plastic and epoxy resins. Exposure to BPA among humans is widespread, since it’s found in products ranging from bottle tops to eyewear and metal cans.
“The biggest concern I see is exposure to plastics, especially when they’re used to store or heat food,” says Dr. Hirshfeld-Cytron. “Plastics release chemicals, including endocrine disruptors like BPA, that interfere with reproductive health.”
Other everyday items that you handle, like heat-printed receipts, also contain BPA, which can be absorbed through the skin. The more contact you have, the more exposure you have — and using hand sanitizer before handling receipts can increase BPA absorption by breaking down your skin’s natural barrier.
“BPA can mimic estrogen and has been linked to egg quality reduction,” says Alex Robles, MD, an obstetrics and gynecology doctor at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City. This can be a risk to your fertility, resulting in irregular periods, ovulation issues, and lower ovarian function or sperm quality.
Dr. Robles recommends swapping plastic storage containers with glass storage containers for food. Meanwhile, ask for digital receipts or wash your hands after handling receipts. Avoid using hand sanitizer before touching a receipt, and wear gloves if you have a job in which you need to use receipt paper regularly.
2. Petroleum
Petroleum is found in a wide range of household items, including nail polish, rubbing alcohol, ammonia, vitamin capsules, paint, trash bags, shoes, phones, and even crayons. Petroleum is also the source of 95 percent of the chemicals used in scented candles and synthetic perfumes, and contains benzene derivatives.
“I caution patients about heavily scented candles and any product with ‘perfume’ on the label, as these often contain a mix of undisclosed chemicals that linger in the air and dust in your home, contributing to long-term exposure,” says Hirshfeld-Cytron.
Petroleum-based products may release volatile organic compounds, including benzene derivatives, into indoor air. This raises questions about potential reproductive effects in humans, says Ruben Alvero, MD, a researcher and clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford Medical School in California.
Much of the research on benzene and fertility has been done in animals. Mice exposed to benzene through inhalation show damage to the testes and disruption of genes involved with sperm production. Human research is limited, but a study from 2012 found that industrial workers who are constantly exposed to benzene have significant decreases in sperm count and increased DNA damage. No newer research is available.
Several products with benzene have been recalled, including dry shampoo and deodorant sprays. You can search a complete list of recalled products to avoid, including those recalled for containing elevated benzene levels, through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
3. Phthalates
Humans are exposed to phthalates every day, which can disrupt hormones and reproductive health. “Phthalates are chemicals that make plastic soft and flexible,” says Robles. “They are mostly found in plastics, personal-care products, and air fresheners but may disrupt hormone function and may affect sperm and ovarian development.”
Phthalates have been linked to issues with the ovaries, the uterus, pregnancy outcomes, and hormone regulation. However, because most studies have looked at isolated phthalates in animals, more research is needed to understand the real-life effects in women.
In a study of 1,228 women who were trying to get pregnant, exposure to phthalates before pregnancy was linked to a 12 to 18 percent lower chance of getting pregnant each cycle. These women also experienced biological changes like inflammation and hormonal shifts that may play a role in fertility challenges.
4. Parabens
Many cleaning and personal-care products contain parabens, which have been linked to fertility issues, says Hirshfeld-Cytron.
Used as antimicrobial preservatives since the 1920s, parabens are found throughout the environment and in women’s bodies, including reproductive tissues. Parabens act like the hormone estrogen in your body, disrupting normal reproductive systems. Some studies suggest that paraben exposure can alter reproductive and thyroid hormone levels. That said, the research is still limited and sometimes conflicting.
“These are primarily seen in cosmetics, so it’s important to be very conscious about what you use,” says Dr. Alvero. Many retailers have already banned or restricted parabens in the products they carry. However, it’s still a good idea to check the products you use for a “paraben-free” label. Avoid those that have ingredients ending in “-parben” like methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben.
Many brands market themselves as “clean,” but always be sure to double-check the ingredients label. “Sometimes the clean element of the product refers to the way it was produced, not the actual ingredients used,” says Hirshfeld-Cytron.
One of the best ways to avoid unhealthy chemicals is to decrease the number of products you use and try at-home methods like shea butter or sunflower oil for dry skin.
5. PFAS
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are known as “forever chemicals” because they are extremely resistant to degrading or breaking down. Some exposure to PFAS is “unavoidable in our environment,” says Hirshfeld-Cytron. “Many plastics are continually made with components that have these chemicals. They continue to be in items from soap containers to take-out containers.”
PFAS are often used to make products heat resistant, which is also linked to fertility issues, says Robles. Found in nonstick cookware, PFAS is an endocrine disruptor that may affect sperm and ovarian development.
Research conducted in Singapore shows exposure to PFAS may reduce the likelihood of pregnancy by as much as 40 percent in women. Higher levels of PFAS in blood are associated with a significant decrease in the chances of pregnancy and live birth.
Exposure to PFAS may also reduce the number and quality of eggs and embryos in women who undergo in vitro fertilization, though more research is needed to understand the mechanism behind this.
PFAS can be found in drinking water. Consider installing an in-home water treatment like filters that are certified to lower PFAS levels. Avoid buying furniture, bedding, or other textiles labeled as water- or stain-repellant, as these often contain PFAS. Replace your nonstick cookware with stainless steel, cast iron, glass, or ceramic alternatives. Also skip heating up food wrapped in grease-resistant packaging or plastic.
“Finding safe, nontoxic alternatives is expensive and overwhelming, so I like to remind people to start with simple changes: avoiding plastics, using air and water filters, removing shoes in the house, skipping heavily scented candles, and using proper skin protection can make a meaningful difference,” says Hirshfeld-Cytron.
The Takeaway
Chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and parabens are found in everyday household items and can potentially disrupt your reproductive system.
Although use of these chemicals is widespread, you can take steps to avoid them by researching the products you buy and considering measures like using in-home water treatments or switching from plastic containers to glass for food storage.
You can also avoid chemicals that affect fertility by skipping nonstick cookware, not heating food wrapped in plastic, and finding alternatives for water- or stain-repellent products.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
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Kara Smythe, MD, has been working in sexual and reproductive health for over 10 years. Dr. Smythe is a board-certified fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and her interests include improving maternal health, ensuring access to contraception, and promoting sexual health.
She graduated magna cum laude from Florida International University with a bachelor's degree in biology and earned her medical degree from St. George’s University in Grenada. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She worked in Maine for six years, where she had the privilege of caring for an underserved population.
Smythe is also passionate about the ways that public health policies shape individual health outcomes. She has a master’s degree in population health from University College London and recently completed a social science research methods master's degree at Cardiff University. She is currently working on her PhD in medical sociology. Her research examines people's experiences of accessing, using, and discontinuing long-acting reversible contraception.
When she’s not working, Smythe enjoys dancing, photography, and spending time with her family and her cat, Finnegan.
Kelsey Kloss is a health and wellness journalist with over a decade of experience. She started her career as an in-house editor for brands including Reader’s Digest, Elle Decor, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, Woman's Day, and Redbook, and her work has been featured in over 50 publications.
