Private MD News

Study shows more possible effects on fertility for bisphenol A

Updated: 2009-07-13 21:28:20 CST Category: Infertitlity Hormone Testing

by Frank Mayweather

A new study from the University of Illinois has found that bisphenol A, a widely used chemical in plastics that has come under fire for possible adverse health effects, may reduce fertility by interfering in their ability to produce progesterone.

Professor Jodi Flaws of the University of Illinois found that the follicle cells of mice exposed to a low dose of bisphenol A produced 97 percent less progesterone. Progesterone is essential to reproductive activity for both mice and humans. A progesterone test showing low levels of the hormone is often a sign of impaired fertility.

"These are the only follicles that are capable of ovulating and so if they don't grow properly they're not going to ovulate and there could be fertility issues," Flaws said.

The National Toxicology Program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services concluded in 2008 that it remains unclear whether the adverse effects of bisphenol A seen in lab animals were applicable to humans but this didn't stop the city of Chicago from banning the chemical in baby bottles and sippy cups in May.

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