How Plastics & Microplastics Affect Egg Quality, Sperm Health & Fertility [EP 54]
If there’s one thing I’ve learned after a decade working in fertility, it’s this: the environment your egg and sperm are maturing in matters more than genetics. And yet for years, concerns about environmental toxins were brushed off as fear-based or overblown. Fast forward to now, and the science is finally catching up. Microplastics and the chemicals attached to them are showing up exactly where we don’t want them—our ovaries, testes, semen, placenta, and even developing babies.
In this episode, we’re breaking down what microplastics actually are, how they interfere with hormone signaling, mitochondrial health, and DNA integrity, and why this matters long before pregnancy ever begins. Fertility doesn’t start at a positive test—it starts months earlier during egg and sperm development. The good news? You don’t need perfection or panic to make meaningful changes. Small, strategic shifts before conception can significantly reduce toxic burden and support healthier fertility outcomes.
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“The environment your egg and sperm mature in matters more than the genetics you were handed.”
What You’ll Learn:
How microplastics and nanoplastics end up in reproductive tissues
Why egg quality and sperm health are especially vulnerable to environmental toxins
The connection between plastics, endocrine disruption, and unexplained infertility
How microplastics drive oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction
Why preconception—not pregnancy—is the time to reduce toxic exposure
Practical, realistic ways to lower plastic exposure without going crazy
How supporting detox pathways protects fertility and future pregnancies
“Microplastics interfere with hormone signaling, mitochondria, and DNA—every system fertility relies on.”
High-Impact Ways to Reduce Plastic Exposure for Fertility:
Ditch plastic water bottles (especially heated ones)
Never heat food in plastic—use glass or stainless steel instead
Store leftovers and fertility foods in glass containers
Choose whole, minimally processed foods to reduce contamination
Avoid plastic tea bags
Swap plastic cutting boards for wood or bamboo
Choose natural fiber clothing, especially for underwear and workout gear
Reduce household dust with HEPA filters and damp mopping
Improve indoor air quality with fresh air and quality filters
Make gradual swaps in personal care products to avoid microplastics
Links Mentioned:
Get my FREE Fertility Meal Plan
References:
Ragusa A, et al. Plasticenta: First evidence of microplastics in human placenta. Environment International. 2021;146:106274.
Braun T, et al. Detection of microplastics in human follicular fluid. Human Reproduction. 2024;39(1):117–126.
Amereh F, et al. Microplastics detected in human semen: potential implications for male fertility. Environmental Science & Technology. 2024;58(5):3121–3130.
Rochester JR. Bisphenol A and human health: A review of the literature. Reproductive Toxicology. 2013;42:132–155.
Gore AC, et al. EDC-2: The Endocrine Society’s second scientific statement on endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Endocrine Reviews. 2015;36(6):E1–E150.
Vandenberg LN, et al. Human exposure to bisphenol A and its analogues. Nature Reviews Endocrinology. 2022;18:403–421.
Amereh F, et al. Microplastic exposure impairs sperm quality and induces oxidative stress. Environmental Pollution. 2023;317:120701.
Jurewicz J, Hanke W. Exposure to phthalates: Reproductive outcome and children health. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health. 2011;24(2):115–141.
Meeker JD, et al. Phthalates and male reproductive health. Human Reproduction Update. 2009;15(3):253–265.
Petro EML, et al. Endocrine disruptors and female fertility. Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity. 2012;19(6):459–464.
Minguez-Alarcón L, et al. PFAS exposure and ovarian response among women undergoing IVF. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2017;125(3):067006.
Wang Y, et al. Environmental pollutants and diminished ovarian reserve. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. 2020;37:1409–1421.
Ragusa A, et al. Microplastics in placental tissue and implications for fetal development. Environment International. 2022;160:107066.
Leslie HA, et al. Discovery and quantification of plastic particle pollution in human blood. Environment International. 2022;163:107199.
Liu S, et al. Association between microplastics and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Science of the Total Environment. 2024;912:168927.
Hou J, et al. Microplastics induce oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in reproductive systems. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2021;416:125986.
Lim SL, et al. Microplastics and nanoplastics: Emerging contaminants in reproductive health. Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2024;35(2):85–97.
Yang L, et al. Release of microplastics from plastic food containers during heating. Environmental Science & Technology. 2023;57(12):4561–4570.
Li D, et al. Microplastics in bottled water. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). 2024;121(3):e2300584121.
Hernandez LM, et al. Plastic ingestion by humans and health implications. Science.
“This isn’t about perfection. It’s about lowering the load your body is carrying.”
Transcript:
Introduction
Welcome back to The Fertility Dietitian Podcast. Today we’re talking about plastics and microplastics—and how they impact egg quality, sperm health, and fertility.
After nearly a decade working in fertility, one thing is clear: the environment your egg and sperm mature in matters more than genetics. Through epigenetics, we can influence gene expression based on our exposures. That means what surrounds us—our food, water, air, and products—plays a powerful role in reproductive health.
For years, environmental toxin concerns were dismissed as fear-based. But the research has caught up. These exposures are not benign, especially when it comes to fertility. Eggs and sperm are highly sensitive and depend on precise hormone signaling, healthy mitochondria, intact cell membranes, and effective detox pathways. Microplastics interfere with every one of these systems.
What Are Microplastics
Plastics don’t disappear—they break down. Over time, plastic products fragment into microplastics, which are smaller than five millimeters, and nanoplastics, which are small enough to enter individual cells.
These particles are now found in food, drinking water, and the air we breathe. They’ve been detected in ovaries, testes, semen, placental tissue, breast milk, and even a baby’s first stool. Nanoplastics can cross both the placental barrier and the blood-brain barrier.
This means exposure doesn’t just affect adults. It impacts the earliest stages of human development—before conception and throughout pregnancy.
Why Fertility Is Especially Vulnerable
Eggs and sperm develop over months, not days. The environment during that time directly influences their quality.
Microplastics and the chemicals attached to them are linked to endocrine disruption, including altered estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone signaling. Hormones are the language of fertility, and disrupting that communication has consequences.
These exposures are also associated with oxidative stress, which damages egg and sperm DNA, inflammation that interferes with implantation, and impaired mitochondrial function. Healthy mitochondria are essential for egg quality and sperm motility because they provide the energy required for reproduction.
Plastics, Hormones, and Reproductive Outcomes
Many plastics contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and PFAS. These compounds can mimic or block hormones, leading to imbalances that affect ovulation, sperm development, implantation, and pregnancy outcomes.
This helps explain rising rates of unexplained infertility, poor egg and sperm quality, implantation failure, and pregnancy complications. Plastics aren’t the only cause, but they add to the total toxic burden the body must manage.
When nanoplastics enter cells, they interfere with DNA integrity, cellular replication, and energy production at every stage of reproduction.
Why Preconception Is the Time to Act
You don’t detox during pregnancy—you prepare before it.
During pregnancy, the body prioritizes protecting the developing baby. If toxic burden is high before conception, fewer resources are available for hormone balance, nutrient delivery, and placental development.
Preconception is the ideal window to reduce exposures and support detox pathways—without panic or perfection.
Practical Ways to Reduce Plastic Exposure
Avoiding plastics entirely is impossible, and that’s important to remember. The goal is not elimination—it’s reduction.
Start with high-impact changes:
Ditch plastic water bottles, especially if they’ve been heated
Never heat food in plastic
Use glass or stainless steel for food storage
Choose whole, minimally processed foods
Avoid plastic tea bags
Swap plastic cutting boards for wood or bamboo
Reduce household exposure:
Use HEPA air filters
Damp mop and damp dust instead of dry sweeping
Open windows daily for fresh air
Choose natural fiber clothing when possible, especially items worn close to the reproductive organs. Make gradual swaps in personal care products when you’re ready.
Supporting Detox and Cellular Health
Reducing exposure matters—but so does supporting your body’s ability to handle what can’t be avoided.
This includes repleting minerals, supporting liver detox pathways, optimizing gut health, and stabilizing blood sugar to reduce internal stress.
Mitochondrial support is also critical. Prioritize quality sleep, antioxidant-rich foods, sweating through sauna use, and red light exposure when appropriate.
The Big Picture:
Preconception care must be foundational, not reactionary. It takes time for changes to impact egg and sperm quality, and those improvements carry forward into pregnancy and early development.
Once these practices are in place, they also help reduce exposure for your future child during their most vulnerable years.
We don’t need perfect data to take reasonable action. The research consistently shows microplastics where they don’t belong—reproductive tissues and the brain. Reducing exposure, supporting detox, and advocating for safer systems matters not just for fertility, but for future generations.
Preconception care is about more than getting pregnant. It’s about creating the healthiest possible environment for life to begin.