Dr. Shanna Swan: How to Safeguard Your Hormone Health & Fertility

Phthalates

Phthalates, a group of chemicals used in plastics, have been identified as significant disruptors of reproductive health. Shanna Swan explains that phthalates are particularly harmful to male fetal development, leading to conditions like "incompletely masculinized" genitals in male offspring 1. These chemicals can enter the body through various means, including food and skin contact, and have been linked to shorter anogenital distances in males, a marker of reproductive toxicity 2. Swan highlights ongoing studies that track these effects in humans, emphasizing the need for further research to fully understand their long-term impact 3.

More phthalate exposure equates to shorter anogenital distance. In males, it was approaching the distribution. In females, it sounds like that the distributions moved more closely together.

--- Andrew Huberman

Understanding these impacts is crucial for developing strategies to mitigate exposure and protect reproductive health.

   

BPA Concerns

BPA, commonly found in plastics, is another chemical of concern due to its estrogenic properties. Shanna Swan discusses how BPA, along with its alternatives like BPS and BPF, can disrupt hormonal balance and pose health risks 4. Despite the rise of BPA-free products, these alternatives often carry similar risks, complicating efforts to find safe substitutes 5. Swan emphasizes the importance of reducing exposure by avoiding plastic containers and opting for glass or other safer materials.

The primary source of BPA is in the lining of cans. So any drink or soup or anything that comes in a can is going.

--- Shanna Swan

This highlights the need for consumer awareness and careful selection of products to minimize health risks.

   

Pesticides

Pesticides are another environmental factor affecting reproductive health, particularly sperm quality. Shanna Swan shares findings from studies showing that men in agricultural areas with high pesticide use have significantly lower sperm motility compared to those in less exposed regions 6. Atrazine, a widely used pesticide, has been linked to altered sexual behavior in amphibians, suggesting its potential impact on human reproductive health as well 7. These findings underscore the importance of understanding and mitigating pesticide exposure to protect fertility.

Men who were living in central Missouri, where I was living at the time, who were in the middle of an agricultural belt where there was spraying all the time for soybeans and so on, those men had half as many moving sperm as men in Minneapolis.

--- Shanna Swan

Addressing these environmental challenges is crucial for safeguarding reproductive health.