Parabens and Fertility
Today we're going to talk about parabens and your reproductive health.
As a reproductive endocrinologist helping people build their families for over 15 years, I’m passionate about teaching you the lifestyle changes you can make to optimize your reproductive health. When I studied the many things that impact reproduction, I learned a lot about endocrine disruptors and how they might affect fertility, including egg and sperm health, the risk of miscarriage, and lowered fertility treatment success rates.
I think it’s essential to be armed with knowledge about endocrine disruptors and their impacts, regardless of whether you’re trying to start a family. In fact, this is a topic I think everyone should be learning about because these endocrine disruptors can affect a range of health issues.
This blog post is heavy on specific studies and what they reveal about the impact of parabens on the reproductive system, but having the data is an empowering way to take on a somewhat overwhelming topic, so thanks for sticking with me.
What are parabens?
Parabens are chemical preservatives that prevent mold and bacteria from growing in your products. First manufactured in the 1920s, parabens are now used in products you come in contact with daily. You can find them in personal care and household products like makeup, shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent, skincare, toothpaste, sunscreen, deodorant, and more. Parabens can also be found in supplements, vitamins, and prescription medications.
In the 1970s, propylparaben was designated a safe-to-use preservative in food and beverages to help decrease mold and bacteria growth. Unfortunately, the FDA doesn’t regulate the volume of parabens in foods or personal care products. However, they do suggest the concentration of parabens in prescription drugs shouldn’t be higher than 0.1%.
Many see parabens as an adequate safeguard since they protect against mold and bacteria. However, studies have also identified them as endocrine disruptors that can harm your health.
Fortunately, there are less toxic options for preservatives on the market, and you can choose safer products that may improve your fertility and overall health. I recommend educating yourself and consider swapping products for alternatives. This may not be possible for all products for many reasons but decreasing exposure to endocrine disruptors, even a little, can benefit your health.
Do parabens stay in the body?
There are many kinds of parabens, but the most common ones in products are methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, isopropyl-, butyl-, and isobutylparaben. Past studies have shown that our bodies get rid of parabens very quickly, which is why many companies argue that they’re safe for human use and consumption. However, there’s also conflicting evidence showing that parabens can get stored in our fat cells, sticking around in our bodies for extended periods.
Here are two studies showcasing how parabens may last longer in the body:
A 2010 CDC study revealed that 92% of Americans tested positive for propylparaben and 50% tested positive for butylparaben. The study also found higher levels of parabens in women than men (possibly due to the assumption that many women use more personal care products compared to many men).
In 2019, the HERMOSA intervention study confirmed that people who use more personal care products have higher levels of parabens in their bodies (Harley 2016). This trial showed higher levels of parabens in teen girls who use makeup regularly compared to teen girls who do not. Many parabens get metabolized quickly, and this trial showed a 45% drop in paraben levels in the urine of girls who stopped using paraben-filled cosmetic products for three days.
Now, I don't want to bore you with all these studies, but my hope in laying out this data is to provide you with concrete evidence about the risks of parabens. You may hear different opinions from different providers on the dangers of parabens, and the best response is to study what the data says so that you can come to your own educated conclusion.
How can parabens affect reproductive health and fertility?
Much research shows the different ways that parabens can impact our endocrine system and our reproductive health. Typically, the larger the paraben, the more impact it has on your endocrine receptors and hormonal system. Multiple studies show that when the endocrine receptors are exposed to these chemicals, the function and action of estrogen and testosterone can get altered. There’s also been a link between high levels of parabens and shorter menstrual cycles.
Research on female infertility shows that high levels of parabens have been associated with diminished ovarian reserve. Here are a few studies detailing how parabens affect fertility:
One study out of Michigan looked at about 500 couples trying to conceive. During the study's observational period, they measured levels of parabens and how long it took for couples to conceive. It was found that women with the highest level of parabens in their system took the longest to conceive.
Another study from a fertility center tested 200 women for their ovarian reserve and the levels of four different parabens in their system. The study found that a high level of certain parabens was associated with higher follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and a lower antral follicle count. This is notable because a high FSH and a low antral follicle count can be associated with infertility and a lower success rate with fertility treatment.
In 2014, one study observed 300 men attending a fertility clinic. This trial measured levels of parabens and looked at semen analysis results. It was found that high levels of parabens were significantly associated with an increase in the percentage of sperm with abnormal morphology, high DNA fragmentation, and a decrease in the number of motile sperm and testosterone levels.
Many studies have examined parabens and pregnancy. Babies can be exposed to parabens when moms are exposed. Parabens have been discovered in cord blood, placental tissue, amniotic fluid, and breast milk (Kolatorova 2018). Some studies have shown that high levels of parabens are associated with a lower birth weight (Geer 2017) and an increased risk of gestational diabetes (Bellavai 2019).
So why do we still use parabens when there’s risk associated?
Currently, parabens are used widely because of their documented minimal toxicity, low cost, chemical inertness, and near-worldwide acceptance. Without preservation, cosmetic products and pharmaceuticals can become contaminated with mold, fungi, and bacteria, resulting in spoilage and increased infection risk.
In addition, parabens are known for their friendliness to sensitive skin. The American Contact Dermatitis Society declared parabens the ‘Nonallergen of the Year’ in 2019 to call attention to their low risk of allergy induction.
In a 2019 review article in Dermatitis (a dermatology research journal), the authors argue that parabens are safe and inexpensive and should be used as preservatives due to their low allergy-inducing potential in cosmetics (Fransway 2019). The argument made by fans of parabens is that if we remove parabens from products, the alternatives may increase the risk of bacteria, infection, and harm.
If you’d like to learn more about how parabens can affect the body’s overall and reproductive health, check out my blog post, The Paraben Paradox. In this post, I detail 35 studies to back up my claims about the harmful effects of parabens, including how they’re linked to the risk of obesity, cancer, and other health issues.
Quick recap:
Parabens are chemicals that are used as preservatives in many household products like personal care products and processed foods.
Parabens are found in the majority of humans tested and throughout the body – in blood, urine, amniotic fluid, placental tissue, and breast milk.
Parabens are endocrine disruptors that alter hormonal function and gene expression.
Parabens have been associated with altered reproductive function, fertility issues, obesity, and cancer.
Some argue that paraben use in products is safe because small amounts are used in each product and parabens are eliminated by the body quickly.
Some argue that paraben use is not safe because exposure and harm increases with multiple products and storage of parabens in fat cells puts obese people at higher risk over time.
There are alternatives to parabens for preserving products and many products available without parabens – see tips for finding paraben-free products.
If you have any questions, please comment in my YouTube video.
