Ετικέτα: reproductive health

Pesticides may increase risk of endometriosis

Last modified: 5 Δεκεμβρίου, 2017

Pesticides may increase the risk of endometriosis research study warns. Study findings warn about the environmental effects on the health of women of reproductive age.

Research conducted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center revealed that two organochlorine pesticides are linked to endometriosis in women of reproductive age. Researchers collected data from two study groups: a group of 248 women diagnosed with endometriosis, and a second control group of 538 healthy women. All women were of reproductive age among 18 and 40 year old.

The study found that women who were exposed at greater level at such pesticides (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane, mirex) were 30-70% more likely to suffer from endometriosis. These results, suggesting that pesticides may increase risk of endometriosis, were published in Environmental Health Perspectives, a journal of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

pesticides endometriosis

Environmental chemicals used in the past could impact the reproductive health of future generations

The PhD scientist who led the study, Victoria Holt, originally thought of investigating pesticides effects on female reproductive health as it has been previously shown that organochlorine pesticides can have estrogenic properties, mimicking the effects of estrogens (reproductive hormones). It is also known that endometriosis is an estrogen dependent disease so it would make sense if such chemicals negatively affect the female reproductive system is some way.

Endometriosis is the pathogenic condition where the womb tissue lining grows outside of the womb and attaches to other organs. It is a painful, chronic condition and because of that thousands of women visit fertility clinics for treatments.

Nowadays, it is estimated that the number of women diagnosed with the disease has greatly increased since 1940 with millions of women over the globe affected, making them struggle with infertility problems as well.

Since endometriosis is the effect of hormonal imbalances it is quite possible that pesticides do exactly that. In animal studies, organochlorine pesticides have been found to alter the uterus and ovaries function as well as causing hormonal imbalances.

According to lead author of the study, Kristen Upson, the surprising fact about the results is that these pesticides were detected in the blood of the women, increasing the risk of endometriosis, while being banned in the U.S. “the message here is that environmental chemicals used in the past could  impact the reproductive health of future generations” she commented.

Are you aware of ways to avoid pesticides in your diet and protect your fertility?

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Global Warming Affects Birth Rates

Last modified: 13 Νοεμβρίου, 2015

Climate change can affect people and the environment in many ways. It now seems that climate affects birth rates as well. A new study reports that global warming leads to a declining number of births.

Global-Warming

A new study reports that global warming leads to a declining number of births

More specifically, according to research by the National Bureau of Economic Research in Massachusetts, high temperatures could decrease sexual desire and it is possible that people have fewer sexual relations during hot days. Other than that it is also likely that high temperatures affect reproductive health, impacting birth rates.

Researchers found that birth rates drop dramatically after a particularly hot day, about 9 months later. Actually, birth rates decreased by 0.7% compared to the outcome of a cold day.

These findings suggest that warm weather might be associated with decreased fertility or reduced libido due to hormonal imbalances, or more likely to both of these combined. Decreased fertility for men might refer to poor quality sperm and negatively affected testosterone while for women to abnormal ovulation, menstruation and failed implantation of fertilized eggs.

Researchers noted that days on which temperature exceeds 27 °C result in a significant decrease of births eight to ten months later. These rates seem to be partially restored after a couple of months by 32%.  This observation indicates that people adapt to changes caused by high temperatures, altering the month of conception.

Study findings suggest that this trend could lead to 100,000 fewer babies born per year in the US by the end of this century. Air conditioning could possibly allay fears of scientists about the impact of high temperatures to fertility and birth rates. Some researchers, however, argue that the potent greenhouse gases used in air conditioning might as well promote global warming.

Global warming will eventually lead to even more births during summer months according to scientists, when the risk of exposure to hazardous high temperatures is increased. This phenomenon is expected to affect developing countries at a greater level due to extreme temperatures and lack of air conditioning.

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