Are Plastics Silently Threatening Female Fertility? Study Finds Microplastics in Ovaries

New Delhi: Tiny plastic particles, long known to pollute oceans and food, have now been discovered in human ovaries, specifically in the fluid that surrounds and nourishes developing eggs.

A new study published in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety has, for the first time, found microplastics in human ovarian follicular fluid. The research involved 18 women undergoing assisted reproductive treatment at a fertility clinic in Salerno, Italy. Microplastics were detected in 14 of the samples.

This fluid plays a key role in helping eggs grow and develop. The researchers said that the presence of plastic in this environment could impact fertility, hormonal balance, and overall reproductive health.

“This discovery should serve as an important warning signal about the invasiveness of these emerging contaminants in the female reproductive system,” the study says.

Dr. Luigi Montano, lead author and researcher at the University of Rome, called the findings deeply concerning.

“This discovery should serve as an important warning signal about the invasiveness of these emerging contaminants in the female reproductive system,” he said again, emphasizing the risk.

Microplastics, tiny fragments less than 5 mm in size, are known to carry more than 16,000 chemicals, including toxic compounds like PFAS, bisphenol A (BPA), and phthalates. These substances are linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and developmental harm.

Dr. Montano’s team has previously detected microplastics in human urine and semen as part of a larger project on environmental impacts on fertility. He suspects these particles are contributing to declining sperm counts and worsening sperm quality.

“We have proven this decline, especially in areas where pollution is bad,” he said.

He added that while men may be more affected, women are also at risk. Animal studies have shown that microplastics can interfere with ovarian function, egg development, and fertilization potential.

The study notes a “possible presence of correlation between the concentration of microplastics” and reproductive health among the women studied.

“The bisphenol, phthalates, PFAS, and other highly toxic chemicals that use microplastics as a ‘Trojan horse’ to get into the body, and into the ovaries, are very dangerous,” Dr. Montano said.

Dr. Xiaozhong Yu, a microplastics researcher at the University of New Mexico, called the results important but stressed that more research is needed to understand exposure levels and risk.

“This is the work in the next phase—we need to quantify,” he said, noting that his team is working on broader epidemiological studies.

Montano’s team is also exploring whether reducing plastic use in the kitchen and switching to organic food can help lower microplastic levels in the body.

Experts advise avoiding plastic containers for hot food or drink, not microwaving plastic, and choosing stainless steel, glass, or wood alternatives.

Items like single-use coffee cups and plastic tea bags can release large numbers of plastic particles when heated. Even plastic utensils briefly in contact with hot pans may contribute to exposure. Some pesticides also contain microplastics, making organic diets a potentially safer option.

This study adds to growing evidence that microplastics are reaching sensitive areas of the body and could be affecting reproductive health.