Microplastics vs Fertility: This is why you're not having children, and infertility is on the rise among men and women.

Microplastics vs. Fertility Health Risks: Scientists are now growing concerned that these particles have entered the human body and can impact health. Let us explain how.

Do microplastics affect fertility?

How Microplastics Affect Fertility: Plastic has become a part of our everyday lives. Tiny plastic particles are present in everything from drinking water to food packaging, household dust, and even the air. These are called microplastics. Previously, they were considered solely an environmental problem, but now scientists are increasingly concerned that these particles have entered the human body and can impact health.

Their reach to humans has increased.

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than five millimeters in size. Larger plastic products break down into these microscopic particles over time. In recent years, scientists have found them in human blood, lungs, placenta, sperm, and even the follicular fluid in women's ovaries. This is why research into their effects on fertility has intensified.

Can it cause infertility?

A 2024 study published by researchers at the University of New Mexico found microplastic particles in human testicular tissue. Other studies have also found their presence in women's follicular fluid. While scientists aren't directly stating that microplastics are the cause of infertility, concerns about their potential effects have certainly grown.

What problem are humans facing?

According to Dr. Anindita Singh, a fertility specialist at Nova IVF in Kolkata, research suggests that microplastics can increase oxidative stress in the body. This condition causes a rapid increase in harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species, which can damage cells. Dr. Anindita Singh explains that microplastics can affect mitochondrial function and interfere with the balance of hormones like estrogen and testosterone.

Experts believe that long-term exposure to microplastics can reduce sperm motility, damage DNA, and affect fertility in men. In women, it is suspected that it can negatively impact ovarian function, egg quality, and fertilization.

What other problems are there apart from fertility?

In addition to fertility, microplastics are also considered a potential threat to the immune system, heart health, metabolism, and endocrine system. Although scientists are still conducting further research on this topic, experts advise taking precautions. According to Dr. Anindita Singh, using glass or steel instead of plastic bottles, avoiding heating food in plastic containers, consuming fewer packaged foods, drinking filtered water, and adopting an anti-inflammatory diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help reduce microplastic exposure.