14
Aug
Review Links Pesticides and Contaminants to Mechanisms that Threaten Women’s Reproductive Health
(Beyond Pesticides, August 14, 2025) A review in Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology links various classes of environmental pollutants including pesticides and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), both of which Beyond Pesticides has extensively covered, to adverse effects on the female reproductive system and common mechanisms of toxicity. These chemicals “disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG), impair ovarian function, and contribute to reproductive dysfunction through mechanisms such as oxidative stress, hormonal disruption, and epigenetic [gene expression or behavior] modifications,” the authors say. This leads to menstrual irregularities, infertility, and pregnancy complications, as well as increases in the risk of reproductive system disorders such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and ovarian cancer, among others.
“Additionally, transgenerational effects mediated by epigenetic modifications, germ cell damage, and placental transfer may adversely affect offspring health, increasing the risk of reproductive dysfunction, neurodevelopmental disorders, metabolic diseases, and cancer,” the researchers explain. This study, integrating recent epidemiological and experimental findings, provides an overview of major chemical classes that threaten women’s health and highlights the need for immediate action.
As the authors point out, female reproductive health is important not only for those who choose to plan for a family but also for the overall well-being and general health of women. Hormonal balance, immune regulation, and the proper functioning of the HPG axis are crucial in impacting other aspects of health aside from reproduction. A wide body of scientific literature finds that environmental chemicals disrupt the sensitive equilibrium of hormones within the body, as well as impair reproductive processes and contribute to long-term health outcomes. (See the Pesticide-Induced Diseases Database.)
However, many data and knowledge gaps still exist. “Real-world exposure typically involves long-term, low-level exposure to complex mixtures, yet most research focuses on the high-dose effects of individual chemicals,” the researchers note. They continue, “Additionally, the transgenerational [across multiple generations] effects of chemical exposure, particularly how maternal exposure may influence health and fertility in subsequent generations, are still not fully understood.”
Literature Review of Multiple Chemical Classes
The authors analyze studies that link exposure to environmental contaminants with adverse effects to women’s reproductive health. The chemical classes within the review include plasticizers, PFAS, heavy metals, pesticides, organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), microplastics, quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), many of which are related to chemical-intensive land management and can exacerbate health effects through additive or synergistic effects, like microplastics when in contact with petrochemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.
PFAS
As explained in previous Daily News, the multitude of sources of PFAS and various exposure routes lead to widespread contamination of the environment and organisms. PFAS in agriculture represents a large source of exposure, as the chemicals can be pesticide active ingredients, used in the plastic containers pesticides are stored in, and as surfactants in pesticide products. Additionally, PFAS are used in many other plastic storage containers and food packaging, personal care products, nonstick cookware, cleaning supplies, treated clothing, firefighting foam, and machinery and equipment used in manufacturing—all of which contaminate food, water, soil, and the air.
In the current literature review, the researchers share evidence of the link between PFAS exposure and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including hypertensive disorders such as preeclampsia, miscarriage, fetal growth restriction, low birth weight, and premature birth. “Such exposure can disrupt hormone signaling pathways by mimicking or blocking natural hormones, leading to impaired follicular development, reduced oocyte quality, and disrupted ovulation,” the authors state. “This hormonal imbalance may result in irregular menstrual cycles, amenorrhea [absence of menstruation], and overall decreased fertility.” (See studies here, here, and here, as well as additional studies on birth/fetal effects in the Pesticide-Induced Diseases Database.)
Pesticides
Research shows that pesticides induce oxidative stress, which leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that damage reproductive tissues. This can impact both males and females by impairing ovarian and testicular function, disrupting oocyte (a developing egg cell in the ovaries) maturation, and reducing sperm quality.
Study results highlighted in the review include:
- Organophosphates cause imbalances in sex hormone levels. (See here.) This can result in “reduced libido, altered menstrual cycles, ovarian dysfunction, and impaired spermatogenesis, ultimately decreasing fertility in both men and women.”
- Glyphosate and organochlorines are linked to DNA strand breaks, chromosomal abnormalities, and the formation of abnormal nuclear structures in reproductive cells. (See research here.)
- “Pesticides primarily affect human reproduction by functioning as endocrine disruptors, by either enhancing or inhibiting the effects of natural hormones. Additionally, they can induce oxidative stress, leading to cellular damage, metabolic disturbances, and cell death.” (See study here and recent Daily News coverage here.)
- Women exposed to pesticides experience “reduced fertility, increased risk of miscarriages, babies born prematurely or with low birth weight, developmental issues, ovarian dysfunction, and disruption of hormonal regulatory pathways.” (See studies here and here, as well as additional Daily News coverage on negative birth outcomes here.)
- Pesticide toxicity can additionally cause adverse pregnancy outcomes by disrupting placental function.
Mechanisms of Reproductive Toxicity
Exposure to toxic chemicals can result in negative impacts on the ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, and hormonal regulation, among others. Since the female reproductive system is tightly regulated by hormones, any imbalance can lead to damaged cells and disrupted biological processes that are crucial for reproduction and development. Environmental contaminants can “impair oocyte multiplication, growth, and maturation through mechanisms such as oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, and DNA damage,” the researchers note. With many pesticides acting as endocrine disruptors, they can also influence cells within the ovaries and prevent processes, such as folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis, from properly occurring. (See research here and here.)
One study finds that neonicotinoid exposure, through the mechanisms of oxidative stress and DNA damage, leads to apoptosis (programmed cell death) and necrosis (uncontrolled cell and tissue death). Additional studies show PFAS exposure can harm uterine immunity, increasing the risk of endometrial disorders like endometriosis and uterine leiomyoma, as well as reduce ovarian reserve and disrupt menstrual cycles by interfering with hormone synthesis.
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including pesticides, can impact the functioning of the HPG axis, which is “essential for regulating reproductive functions, including follicular growth, ovulation, spermatogenesis, and hormone production,” the authors note. Since EDCs mimic sex hormones, they disrupt homeostasis within the HPG axis, “leading to impaired folliculogenesis, ovulation, conception, spermatogenesis, and fertility.” (See study here.)
Transgenerational Effects
As the review emphasizes: “Environmental chemicals affect not only exposed individuals but also future generations through mechanisms such as epigenetic modifications, germ-cell damage, and placental transfer. Pollutants like PFAS, heavy metals, pesticides, microplastics, and QACs have been linked to adverse effects on offspring, including impaired reproductive, neurological, metabolic, and immune health, as well as increased cancer risk.” This occurs through induced epigenetic changes, defined as altered gene expression without changing DNA sequences. (See Daily News Multitude of Studies Find Epigenetic Effects from PFAS and Other Endocrine Disrupting Pesticides.) These alterations can be passed down through multiple generations and further impact health and development.
Chemical exposure can “directly damage DNA in oocytes and sperm, causing mutations or chromosomal abnormalities that are passed to offspring… [and] significantly impairs offspring reproductive health, including reduced ovarian reserve, disrupted follicular development, altered oviduct morphology and function, and poor sperm quality.” Studies also reveal that PFAS and pesticide exposure during pregnancy is linked to increased attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnoses in children. (See studies here and here and relevant Daily News coverage here.)
Transgenerational exposure is also associated with a heightened risk of hormone-related cancers, such as breast and testicular cancer. Maternal PFAS exposure “has been implicated in an elevated risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and chromosomal abnormalities.” The authors continue, “Similarly, maternal exposure to EDCs—such as PCB, pesticides, benzene, and DDT—during fetal development is consistently associated with a higher risk of testicular cancer, particularly nonseminomas, in male offspring.” (See study here.)
The direct link to adverse reproductive effects in individuals exposed to environmental contaminants like pesticides and PFAS, as well as the subsequent effects on their offspring, requires systemic change. As the researchers advocate, “Taking proactive measures now is critical for ensuring the health and well-being of future generations.”
Organic Solution
Eliminating the use of harmful chemicals is at the forefront of Beyond Pesticides’ mission. Through the widespread adoption of organic agriculture and land management, Beyond Pesticides seeks to protect healthy air, water, land, and food for ourselves and future generations by removing the chemicals that pose unreasonable risks to life.
Learn more about how pesticide exposure impacts women’s reproductive health on Beyond Pesticides’ newly published Reproductive Health Effects page, as well as the health and environmental benefits of organic here and here.
📣 Tell Congress to insist on eliminating pesticides that endanger women’s health.
All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.
Source:
Xie, Y., Peng, R. and Xiao, L. (2025) Environmental Chemicals and Female Reproductive Health: Unraveling Mechanisms and Societal Impacts — A Narrative Review, Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology. Available at: https://www.imrpress.com/journal/CEOG/52/8/10.31083/CEOG39882/htm.
