Will Your Fertility Damage BPA?

A compound present in some plastics and epoxy resins is BPA, or bisphenol-A. If you search for recycle number 7, you will know that there is BPA in the plastic you are using. In some dental sealants, canned food linings, pre-2012 baby bottles, and medical devices, BPA can also be found.

The media often reports on questions regarding BPA, and in most sporting goods stores you can find BPA-free water bottles for sale. Are these goods free from BPA worth it? Is it dangerous for your wellbeing to get BPA?

BPA and Estrogen

A known endocrine disruptor is BPA. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that influence our body's hormones, either by interfering with how they work in the body or by imitating the body's hormones.

Estrogen, an essential reproductive hormone, is imitated by BPA. Although estrogen is sometimes considered a female hormone, it is essential for both men and women to have the hormone.

BPA behaves like a weak oestrogen in the body and has been shown to have an effect even at low levels at least in animal studies. Study in 2009 showed that the likelihood of harmful effects is higher when animals are exposed to BPA at key developmental stages. This involves the embryonic period and the stage of the animal baby.

We just don't know whether animal studies show the reaction of humans to BPA levels.

A potential correlation between BPA and fertility has been identified in some small studies. Men with observable BPA levels in their urine were three times more likely to have lower sperm concentrations and sperm viability in one study published in 2011, more than four times as likely to have lower sperm counts, and twice as likely to have lower sperm motility (how well the sperm swim). This research focused specifically on men working in factories with BPA, and therefore it is unclear how this would apply to men who did not work in a work environment with BPA.

Researchers found that the higher the BPA levels, the lower the peak estradiol levels were in a small study that looked at women going through IVF. They also observed that in women who had higher BPA levels, fewer eggs were retrieved.

However, because these studies were limited in scale, it is unclear how much effect BPA may really have on fertility and human health.

Back in 2003-2004, several research showed that 90% of the population had detectable BPA levels in their urine. Considering that infertility is not discussed by 88 percent of the population, the data does not seem to indicate a clear correlation between BPA and infertility.

However, given that some preliminary studies have found an effect on fertility levels, where possible, it is probably best to avoid BPAs.

BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups was banned in 2012 by the FDA. At the time, most major sports water bottle suppliers moved to making BPA-free bottles as well. Look for BPA-free-labeled goods and substitute older ones.

• Reduce the volume you use of canned foods. Try to buy food that comes in glass jars instead (or fresh or frozen foods.)

• As you would do while microwaving, stop cooking your food in plastic containers. Instead use glass.

• Stop containers of plastic fruit, water bottles, and other plastic bottles with recycle number 7 on them. Unless labelled as BPA-free, these are likely to contain BPA.

• Speak about BPA-free fillings with your dentist.