A new study has found microplastics in the fluid within ovarian follicles for the first time, which may affect women’s health and fertility.
The research, published in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, detected microplastics in the follicular fluid of an 18-year-old woman undergoing assisted reproductive treatment at a fertility clinic in Salerno, Italy. Microplastics were also found in the same location in 14 other women.
The presence of microplastics in ovarian follicles could impact fertility, hormonal balance, and overall reproductive health. However, it is still unclear how much this might affect fertility.
This discovery adds to a growing body of research showing microplastics in various parts of the human body — a critical warning sign that microplastics are not only infiltrating the environment but also entering human bodies through food and other forms of exposure.
This study is a significant finding. Xiao Zhong Yu, a microplastics researcher at the University of New Mexico, stated that it is already well-known that microplastics disrupt hormones and can harm women’s reproductive health. Still, further studies are needed to confirm and better understand this effect.
Source: Translated from Thai
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