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A “spermpocalypse”, defined by falling sperm counts in men across the globe, is upon us. And it is one of the key driving factors behind the <keyword id="22186484" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fertility-crisis" source="keywords">fertility crisis</keyword> — something that even Tesla CEO Elon Musk has spoken about at length. While exposure to pesticides, heavy metals and plastics have all been blamed, another possible culprit is <keyword id="20260846" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="obesity" source="keywords">obesity</keyword>.<br /><br />Now, a massive study from China adds to the growing body of evidence that links obesity to drop in <keyword id="20687206" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sperm-count" source="keywords">sperm count</keyword>s. The study, led by Dr. Yingxin Li of Sun Yat-sen University, analyses data from over 71,000 men across 50 previous studies. It found a significant association between excess weight and decreased semen quality, a broad measure of <keyword id="20290995" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="male-fertility" source="keywords">male fertility</keyword> that includes sperm count, volume, and motility (movement).<br />    <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="110327795" title="Plastic testes: Scientists analyse human testicles, find microplastics in every single one of them!" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Men classified as obese had noticeably lower <keyword id="22467926" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="semen-volume" source="keywords">semen volume</keyword>, total sperm count, and <keyword id="22467927" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sperm-motility" source="keywords">sperm motility</keyword> compared to those with a healthy weight. Even men who were simply overweight, but not obese, showed a decline in semen volume and motility.<br /><br />While this study doesn't definitively prove that obesity causes lower <keyword id="20943900" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sperm-quality" source="keywords">sperm quality</keyword>, it strongly suggests a connection. Researchers believe numerous factors may be at play, including hormonal imbalances, toxins stored in fatty tissue, and even elevated body temperature.<br /><br />Unfortunately, pinpointing the exact mechanisms is challenging due to the multitude of factors that can influence sperm health, including environmental pollutants, smoking, age, diet, and more. Isolating each element for study requires long-term research with stricter controls. Some limitations of the current data include reliance on self-reported BMI and single semen sample analysis.<br />    <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="108710829" title="Nearly all countries will struggle to maintain population levels by 2100, thanks to crashing birth rates: IHME" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>However, the research reinforces the interconnectedness of overall health and specific aspects like fertility. Studies have previously shown that <keyword id="19923802" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="weight-loss" source="keywords">weight loss</keyword> through lifestyle changes can improve sperm quality, further supporting this connection.<br /><br />The authors conclude that this research highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy weight to potentially prevent declines in semen quality and improve male fertility. This research serves as a crucial piece of the puzzle for understanding the global decline in sperm counts and offers a potential avenue for future interventions.<br />

Drop in sperm count can be strongly linked to obesity in men, finds Chinese study

Table of Contents: Masthead Sticky<ul class="summary-list"><li>Men can take supplements like vitamins C, D, and E to boost fertility.</li><li>Experts recommend taking fertility supplements for at least 3 months.</li><li>Fertility supplements won't undo infertility issues from an unhealthy lifestyle.</li></ul><p>An estimated <a href="https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/menshealth/conditioninfo/infertility" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10% to 20%</a> of infertility cases in men stem from issues related to their sperm. However, male prenatal vitamins - also known as male fertility supplements - may help improve sperm count, says <a href="https://www.fcionline.com/meet-our-doctors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Juan Alvarez, MD</a>, a reproductive endocrinologist at Fertility Centers of Illinois.</p><p><strong>Important: </strong>When trying to <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-get-pregnant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">get pregnant</a>, it's paramount that you <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-start-eating-healthy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eat a healthy diet</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/exercise-to-get-results-2016-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exercise regularly</a>. Fertility supplements cannot undo the toll that an unhealthy lifestyle takes on fertility.</p><p>Alvarez recommends a daily multivitamin that includes zinc, <a href="https://www.insider.com/folate-vs-folic-acid#:~:text=Insider's%20takeaway,acid%20is%20the%20synthetic%20form." target="_blank" rel="noopener">folic acid</a>, <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-does-vitamin-c-do" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vitamin C,</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/vitamin-d-benefits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vitamin D</a> along with a few other supplements. Here's what researchers know so far about these supplements and their affect on male fertility.</p><h2><strong>1. Vitamin E </strong></h2><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-vitamin-e-good-for" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vitamin E</a> is a <a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-HealthProfessional/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fat-soluble antioxidant</a>. A <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3048346/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2011 study</a> suggests vitamin E along with selenium is useful in increasing a sperm's motility - or ability to swim to an egg - in infertile men.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-e/art-20364144" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mayo Clinic</a> recommends 15 mg/day, with intake not exceeding 180 mg, as this may <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1104493" target="_blank" rel="noopener">increase the risk for prostate cancer</a>.  </p><h2><strong>2. Vitamin C </strong></h2><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/what-does-vitamin-c-do" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vitamin C</a> is a <a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">water-soluble vitamin</a> involved in protein metabolism, among other bodily processes. Vitamin C itself is an <a href="https://www.winchesterhospital.org/health-library/article?id=21723" target="_blank" rel="noopener">antioxidant</a> that may help improve sperm quality. </p><p>According to a <a href="https://www.goldjournal.net/article/S0090-4295(19)31006-4/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2020 review</a>, clinical evidence of vitamins that increase male fertility most includes <a href="https://www.insider.com/too-much-vitamin-c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vitamin C</a>, as well as <a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Carnitine-HealthProfessional/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">L-carnitine</a>, <a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-HealthProfessional/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vitamin E</a>, and <a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-Consumer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">zinc</a>. Alvarez recommends 1000-2000 mg of vitamin C per day.</p><h2><strong>3. L-carnitine</strong></h2><p>A <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4163266/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2012 review</a> suggests L-carnitine may help to increase sperm quality and sperm movement. The <a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Carnitine-HealthProfessional/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NIH</a> reports that sufficient amounts of carnitine are made by the human body, so there are no dietary recommendations regarding the supplement.</p><p>However, some studies on carnitine supplementation have found that taking <a href="https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(02)04679-4/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2 grams a day for 2 months</a> increased sperm motility. </p><h2><strong>4. Vitamin D</strong></h2><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/vitamin-d-benefits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vitamin D</a> is another <a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fat-soluble vitamin</a> helpful in reducing inflammation, maintaining calcium and phosphate levels, and regulating cell growth. </p><p>A <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11154-017-9425-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2017 study</a> found that adding more Vitamin D helped control <a href="https://www.insider.com/calcium-deficiency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">calcium levels</a>, which is essential for sperm motility. Alvarez recommends 15 mcg of <a href="https://www.insider.com/vitamin-d-benefits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vitamin D</a> per day.</p><h2><strong>5. Zinc </strong></h2><p>Zinc is involved in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7589359/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a series of processes</a> that give sperm the physical capabilities to fuse with and penetrate an egg.</p><p>A <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4773819/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2016 review</a> reported that low zinc levels were associated with male infertility. Alvarez says he recommends a male prenatal multivitamin with zinc due to its ability to <a href="https://www.farrinstitute.org/increase-testosterone-naturally/#elementor-toc__heading-anchor-27" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boost testosterone production</a>,<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4773819/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> sperm count, and sperm function</a>. </p><p>The NIH recommends <a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-Consumer/#:~:text=Yes%2C%20if%20you%20get%20too,the%20%22good%22%20cholesterol)." target="_blank" rel="noopener">no more than 40 mg</a> of zinc per day, as too much can lead to harmful side effects like vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and an impaired immune system.</p><h2><strong>6. Folic acid</strong></h2><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/folate-vs-folic-acid#:~:text=Insider's%20takeaway,acid%20is%20the%20synthetic%20form." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Folic acid</a> is a variant of <a href="https://www.insider.com/folate-vs-folic-acid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">folate </a>- a water-soluble B vitamin that may help <a href="https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/23/5/1014/646098" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reduce sperm abnormalities</a> according to Alvarez. The Mayo Clinic recommends adults take <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-folate/art-20364625#:~:text=The%20recommended%20daily%20amount%20of,of%20folic%20acid%20a%20day." target="_blank" rel="noopener">no more than 400 micrograms</a> per day.</p><p>It's important to note that the effects of folic acid and zinc on male fertility are still debatable. A <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2758450">2020 study</a> by the NIH found no benefit in semen quality or birth rates in men taking zinc and folic acid supplementation. </p><h2><strong>Can men take prenatal vitamins? </strong></h2><p>"I would highly recommend for men who have abnormal semen parameters to start taking L-carnitine, vitamin E, and Omega 3 DHA/fish oil as these supplements have been shown to have great antioxidant activity," says Alvarez. "Taking a supplement can help change sperm <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> in [2-3 months], which is the amount of time required for sperm to develop."</p><h1>What causes low sperm count</h1><ul><li>Heavy alcohol use</li><li>Smoking</li><li>Obesity</li><li>Tight-fitting underwear</li><li>Stress</li><li>Depression</li><li><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/low-sperm-count/symptoms-causes/syc-20374585" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A complete list</a></li></ul><p>While there's limited evidence, according to the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/male-infertility/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20374780" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mayo Clinic</a> male fertility supplements may help sperm health and boost fertility. </p><p><strong>What the research says: </strong>A <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5203687/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2016 review</a> found that antioxidant supplementation, including L-carnitine, vitamin E, and vitamin C, taken for 3 to 6 months prior to trying to conceive improved sperm health. This reinforces a <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF02784546" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1996 study</a> that saw increased fertility ― including motility, percent live, and percent normal sperm ― in men who took vitamin E (and selenium) for 6 months. </p><p>Alvarez says there is no studied timeline as to when males should start taking fertility supplements and vitamins, but at a minimum, he recommends 3 months which is the time it takes for sperm to mature to the point it can fertilize an egg.</p><p>There's also no shame in trying to increase your chances of fathering a child. Men tend to be <a href="https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/31/9/2108/2913864" target="_blank" rel="noopener">less likely to seek infertility treatment </a>potentially due to a variety of <a href="https://www.thebridgeclinic.com/blog/what-is-male-factor-infertility-and-why-the-stigma-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stigmas</a> related to the concepts of fatherhood, manhood, and the frustration or emotional stress of male factor infertility.</p><h2><strong>When to see a doctor about infertility </strong></h2><p>You should visit a doctor if you're experiencing problems with erections, pain or lumps in your testicles, you or your partner is over the age of 35, or you've recently had surgery involving the groin, prostate, or testicles.</p><p><strong>General advice: </strong>See a doctor about possible infertility issues if you've been trying to get pregnant for more than a year.</p><p>Sperm quality decreases with age, especially after <a href="https://brighamhealthhub.org/when-to-see-a-fertility-specialist/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">age 40</a>. Additionally, <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/male-infertility" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Hopkins Medicine</a> reports that sperm disorders where men have trouble producing healthy sperm can affect fertility. This may be caused by genetic diseases, infections, hormone problems, and lifestyle factors such as excessive alcohol, cigarette, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/cbd-vs-thc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">marijuana use</a>.</p><p>To examine male fertility factors, <a href="https://nyulangone.org/doctors/1316994403/james-a-grifo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James Grifo, MD, PhD</a>, the program director at NYU Langone Prelude Fertility Center and chief executive physician at Inception Fertility says you should see a fertility urologist for further evaluation and testing. This specialist can look for semen analysis abnormalities, anatomic abnormalities, ejaculatory problems, or any masses felt in the testicles. </p><p>"Any male who is experiencing infertility may benefit from a skilled urologic work-up," says Grifo. </p><h3><strong>Insider's takeaway</strong></h3><p>Nearly <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/male-infertility/symptoms-causes/syc-20374773" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one in every seven American couples</a> have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a <keyword id="6357793" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="pregnancy">pregnancy</keyword> after a year or more of trying<a href="https://www.insider.com/fertility-diet"></a>. And Alvarez says it's important to know that male infertility is just as common as female infertility. </p><p>"Overall, <a href="https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/menshealth/conditioninfo/infertility" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one-third of infertility cases</a> are caused by male reproductive issues, one-third by female reproductive issues, and one-third by both male and female reproductive issues or unknown factors," Alvarez says. </p><p>Male fertility may be aided by supplementation focused on improving sperm motility, sperm count, and increasing <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-are-the-best-anti-aging-vitamins" target="_blank" rel="noopener">antioxidant activity</a>.</p><p>For this reason, Alvarez says that taking a daily male fertility multivitamin that includes zinc, folic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin D, may help boost sperm health.</p><h1>Related stories from <a href="https://www.insider.com/health-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Health Reference</a>:</h1><ul><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-increase-sperm-count" target="_blank" rel="noopener">6 ways to increase sperm count and improve male fertility</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/can-men-get-yeast-infections" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Men can get yeast infections, too - how to recognize and treat penile yeast infections </a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-increase-fertility" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to increase fertility and boost your chances of getting pregnant faster</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-long-can-sperm-live-outside-the-body" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How long can sperm live outside the body? About 15 minutes</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-check-for-testicular-cancer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to check for testicular cancer</a></strong></li></ul>

6 supplements men can take for stronger, healthier sperm

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>The US Food and Drug Administration <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/toxic-chemicals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">barely regulates the cosmetics industry</a>: just 11 ingredients are forbidden in cosmetic products in the US. In Europe, more than 1,300 compounds are barred. </li><li>The retail chain Claire's came under fire last week after asbestos, a known <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-causes-cancer-food-products-that-increase-your-cancer-risk-2018-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cancer causer</a>, was found in eye shadow and foundation sold there. </li><li>But experts say the Claire's discovery is part a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/endocrine-disruptors-dangerous-chemicals-2019-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">larger issue</a>: the US beauty industry is not subject to many rules, and some of the ingredients makeup-makers use could make people sick. </li></ul><p>Dr. Shruthi Mahalingaiah used to love shopping at Sephora. She bought so much makeup, she said, that she even got "little random gifts" with her purchases.</p><p>"I had drawers full of makeup, all sorts of makeup," Mahalingaiah told Business Insider.</p><p>But today, she no longer sets foot in the store. Ever since she started studying the health effects that chemicals in cosmetics can have on people, Mahalingaiah - a<span> gynecologist at Boston Medical Center - </span>has paired her former beauty routine way down. </p><p><span>"Cosmetic molecules used in the shine or luminescence are often derivatives of PFAS and PFOAs," Mahalingaiah said. </span></p><p><span>These chemicals are endocrine disruptors, which mans they can subtly change how our bodies work by shifting the way our hormones operate. Such h</span><span>ormone disruptors have been linked to metabolism issues, low <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/endocrine-disruptors-dangerous-chemicals-2019-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sperm counts</a> in men, and <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/96/6/1747/2834301" target="_blank" rel="noopener">early menopause</a> in women. They can also do long-term damage to a developing fetus, subtly reducing a baby's brain power and upping the odds of a premature birth.</span></p><p><span>PFAS chemicals are not the only problematic ingredients in makeup: </span>Asbestos, a known cancer-causer, was <a href="https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm632736.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found in Claire's eye shadows and face powder</a> last week.</p><p>"It wasn't surprising to me, because there's no regulation," <span>Mahalingaiah said. </span></p><p><span>The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to use the three Claire's products that tested positive for asbestos, but the agency has said it "does not have authority to mandate a recall."</span></p><p><span>On Tuesday, however, outgoing FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced that Claire's is complying with the FDA's voluntary recall request. </span></p><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></span></p><p><span>But Leo Trasande, a public-health expert from NYU's Langone Health network, thinks the FDA could do a lot more to communicate the health risks of cosmetics to the public and test for dangerous compounds in makeup products.</span></p><p><span>"This is quite late in the game for FDA to rush out and insist that this is a problem," Trasande, who recently <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42202336-sicker-fatter-poorer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote a book</a> on endocrine-disrupting chemicals, told Business Insider.  </span><span>"They've known that this is a problem for some time. </span><span>There is no level of asbestos that is safe." </span></p><h2><span>The US hasn't enacted new cosmetics regulation in over 80 years</span></h2><p><span>The US law that regulates cosmetics - the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act - hasn't changed since it was enacted in 1938. While Europe has banned over 1,300 chemicals from the products for sale there, the US <a href="https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/guidanceregulation/lawsregulations/ucm127406.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">forbids just 11</a>. </span><span>Congress wrote drafts of new cosmetic rules in <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/2359/all-actions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2011</a> and <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/6903/all-actions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2018</a>, but neither set was enacted. </span><span></span></p><p><span>Today, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are once again discussing the potential health risks from products we're putting on our lips, eyes, and bodies. </span></p><p><span>"Cosmetics have largely fallen into a regulatory black hole," Scott Faber, the senior vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, said in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoBEfjsFmZg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sworn testimony</a> before the House <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/legislation/hearings/examining-the-public-health-risks-of-carcinogens-in-consumer-products" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy</a> on Tuesday. "Cosmetics manufacturers do not have to register with FDA, do not have to report ingredients, do not have to report adverse events."</span></p><p><span>This is different from how the FDA treats drugs, medical devices, and food. </span></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></p><p><span>The lack of regulation essentially means that manufacturers of makeup, shampoo, lotion, and other personal-care products in the US can put almost anything they want into those items, including compounds known to raise cancer risk, like <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/coal-tar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coal tar</a>, <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/formaldehyde/formaldehyde-fact-sheet#r2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">formaldehyde</a>, and <a href="https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/productsingredients/potentialcontaminants/ucm388820.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lead</a>. </span></p><p><span>To make matters murkier, producers are permitted to label their products with ingredients like "fragrance" or "parfum" instead of disclosing the specific chemicals that make up those elements of a product, since those formulations are considered trade secrets. So fragranced beauty products could easily contain a toxic compound without consumers ever knowing. </span></p><h2>How much toxin is too much?</h2><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></span></p><p>Because cosmetics are designed to make people attractive to others, they often mimic one of nature's best-known phenomena: the glow women get when pregnant.</p><p>"Thick eyelashes, thick eyebrows, flushed cheeks, big lips, all of this happens under the effects of estrogen," <span>Mahalingaiah said, adding, </span>"it might be the effect a person putting on the makeup might want, but through a pathway that's maybe not the healthiest." </p><p><span>Scientists know that exposure to asbestos raises a person's cancer risk, but the effects of the hormone-disrupting chemicals that can be found in makeup aren't as clear. </span>Researchers are still trying to figure out, for example, how compounds in anti-aging products bind to the estrogen receptors in our bodies. But there are signs that women who use more cosmetics may see <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27545020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">health consequences like early menopause,</a> more <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1600-0757.2011.00407.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hot flashes</a>, painful cases of <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/es204415a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">endometriosis</a>, and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651313002273" target="_blank" rel="noopener">long-term damage to their DNA</a>, which can <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-causes-cancer-food-products-that-increase-your-cancer-risk-2018-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lead to cancer</a>. </p><p><span>"Why do we always need to look fertile and pregnant?" Mahalingaiah asked. </span></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></p><p><span>Research on endocrine disruptors also suggests that the chemicals could subtly <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/endocrine-disruptors-dangerous-chemicals-2019-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slow down people's metabolisms and contribute to chronic health issues like obesity and infertility</a>, even in small doses. This is true for people of all ages and sexes, including unborn babies.</span><span></span></p><p>Take phthalates, for example: the ingredients that keep products like shampoo fresh.</p><p>"Phthalates disrupt the function of the male sex hormone," <span>Mahalingaiah</span> said.</p><p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25743932" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Studies</a> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26087406" target="_blank" rel="noopener">show</a> that men exposed to high concentrations of those chemicals in the womb can have lower testicular volume, less semen, and lower semen quality than other men. </p><h2>The best solution may be to simply use fewer products</h2><p><span>Mahalingaiah said she recently performed an at-home urine test on herself, and found elevated concentrations of parabens (one of the most common <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/By_the_way_doctor_Are_parabens_dangerous" target="_blank" rel="noopener">estrogen-influencing</a> ingredients in beauty products) in her body. She also found the sunscreen ingredient <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/Benzophenone-3_FactSheet.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">benzophenone-3 (BP-3)</a>, which can mess with the way hormones typically function.  </span></p><p><span>To the dismay of her three young daughters, Mahalingaiah said she threw away her 100-shade eyeshadow palettes, since</span><span> <a href="https://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2018/EM/c8em00368h#!divAbstract">PFAS chemicals</a> are often used to make those cosmetics shimmer.</span></p><p><span>Mahalingaiah now recommends that any step in a person's beauty routine that isn't obviously beneficial to their health (like putting on sunscreen) should probably be re-examined. </span></p><p><span>"My piece of advice would be thinking about why [people] think they need a lot of makeup," she said. </span><span>"People are using makeup primers, and then base coats, and then these other coats, and then the spray that locks it all in.</span><span>"</span></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></p><p><span>Each additional product a person uses could raise the risk that their endocrine system gets disrupted, she said. Even so-called "natural" beauty products, which purport to have fewer fragrances and plasticizers than others, can still masquerade as a healthier alternative with largely the same ingredients.</span></p><p><span>"How much <keyword id="41551" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="science">science</keyword> do you need, when there are known carcinogens or toxicants, to make a choice to reduce exposure?" Mahalingaiah asked. "How much data do you need?" </span></p><p><span>Still, she admits that she still falls for the shimmering, radiant formulations chemists have come up on occasion.</span></p><p><span>"I haven't thrown everything out," Mahalingaiah said. </span><span>"I just reduce the frequency of use." </span></p><p><span>Trasande said he, too, has made changes in his home because of his research findings - he has thrown out etched and scratched kitchen plastics, and he tries to circulate more fresh air through his home to clear out toxins. </span></p><p><span>Trasande suggests consumers vet their own personal care products through a database like <a href="https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EWG's Skin Deep</a></span><span>. </span></p><p><span>Once you stop using endocrine-disrupting chemicals, studies suggest concentrations of them in your body can diminish quickly. A</span><span> <a href="https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/full/10.1289/ehp.1510514" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2016 study</a> of 100 14- to 18-year-old girls showed that when they stopped using personal-care products with ingredients like phthalates, parabens, triclosan, and BP-3, their urine concentrations of those chemicals dropped 27-45% in just three days. </span></p><p><span>Mahalingaiah said it's important for consumers to think about how to reduce their exposure: "What do you really need? Can you do with less?" she asked.</span><span></span></p><p><span>Making do with fewer products, of course, will also save you some cash.</span></p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-causes-cancer-food-products-that-increase-your-cancer-risk-2018-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">32 of the most dangerous things science has strongly linked to cancer</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/endocrine-disruptors-dangerous-chemicals-2019-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">A toxic-chemicals expert is sounding the alarm about 4 cancer-linked chemicals that could be making us sicker and fatter</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-vitamin-d-do-you-need-suntanning-isnt-necessary-2018-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">A Yale skin cancer expert says the popular notion that you need to soak up Vitamin D from the sun is a myth</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/does-baby-powder-cause-cancer-johnson-and-johnson-lawsuit-2018-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-read-more-link="" data-e2e-name="read-more-link">Johnson &amp; Johnson is being investigated by the SEC over fears its baby powder may cause cancer - here's how worried you should be</a></li></ul>

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