Journal Article
Urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites and bisphenol A and associations with follicular-phase length, luteal-phase length, fecundability, and early pregnancy loss
Jukic, AM; Calafat, AM; Mcconnaughey, DR; Longnecker, MP; Hoppin, JA; Weinberg, CR; Wilcox, AJ; Baird, DD
Environmental Health Perspectives
ISSN: 0091-6765
EISSN: 1552-9924
US DEPT HEALTH HUMAN SCIENCES PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCE
BACKGROUND: Certain phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) show reproductive effects in animal studies and potentially affect human ovulation, conception, and pregnancy loss.
OBJECTIVES: We investigated these chemicals in relation to follicular- and luteal-phase lengths, time to pregnancy, and early pregnancy loss (within six weeks of the last menstrual period) among women attempting pregnancy.
METHODS: Women discontinuing contraception provided daily first-morning urine specimens and recorded days with vaginal bleeding for up to six months. Specimens had previously been analyzed for estrogen and progesterone metabolites and human chorionic gonadotropin. 221 participants contributed 706 menstrual cycles. We measured 11 phthalate metabolites and BPA in pooled urine from three specimens spaced throughout each menstrual cycle. We analyzed associations between chemical concentrations and outcomes using linear mixed models for follicular- and luteal-phase lengths, discrete-time fecundability models for time to pregnancy and logistic regression for early pregnancy loss.
RESULTS: Higher concentrations of monocarboxyoctyl phthalate (MCOP) were associated with shorter luteal phase (2nd tertile vs. 1st tertile: -0.5 days (95% confidence interval (CI): -0.9, -0.1), 3rd vs. 1st: -0.4 days (CI: -0.8, 0.01), p=0.04). BPA was also associated with shorter luteal phase (2nd vs. 1st: -0.8 days (CI: -1.2, -0.4), 3rd vs. 1st: -0.4 days (CI: -0.8, 0.02), p = 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: BPA and MCOP (or its precursors) were associated with shorter luteal phase. Menstrual-cycle-specific estimates of urinary BPA and phthalate metabolites were not associated with detrimental alterations in follicular-phase length, time to pregnancy, or early pregnancy loss, and in fact, DEHP metabolites (MEOHP and ∑(DEHP) were associated with reduced early loss. These findings should be confirmed in future human studies.
4,4' isopropylidenediphenol; chorionic gonadotropin; estrogen; phthalic acid; progesterone; 4,4' isopropylidenediphenol; benzhydryl derivative; phenol derivative; phthalic acid derivative; pollutant; adult; Article; contraception; demography; female; follicular phase; follow up; human; kidney concentrating capacity; luteal phase; menstrual cycle; outcome assessment; ovulation; pregnancy loss; pregnancy outcome; priority journal; quantitative analysis; urinalysis; vagina bleeding; chemically induced; drug effects; fertility; first trimester pregnancy; pollutant; pregnancy; spontaneous abortion; toxicity; urine; Abortion, Spontaneous; Adult; Benzhydryl Compounds; Environmental Pollutants; Female; Fertility; Follicular Phase; Humans; Luteal Phase; Phenols; Phthalic Acids; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, First