Reproductive Health

Description

Reproductive health refers to the diseases, disorders and conditions that affect the functioning of the male and female reproductive systems during all stages of life. Disorders of reproduction include birth defects, developmental disorders, low birth weight, preterm birth, reduced fertility, impotence, and menstrual disorders. Research has shown that exposure to environmental pollutants may pose the greatest threat to reproductive health. Exposure to lead is associated with reduced fertility in both men and women, while mercury exposure has been linked to birth defects and neurological disorders. A growing body of evidence suggests that exposure to endocrine disruptors, chemicals that appear to disrupt hormonal activity in humans and animals, may contribute to problems with fertility, pregnancy, and other aspects of reproduction.

Health Studies & Clinical Trials

• DES Study(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/labs/epi/studies/des/index.cfm)
• Early Pregnancy Study(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/labs/epi/studies/eps/index.cfm)
• Fibroid Growth Study(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/labs/epi/studies/fgs/index.cfm)
• Norway Facial Clefts Study(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/labs/epi/studies/ncl/index.cfm)
• Postpartum Uterine Regression Study(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/labs/epi/studies/postpartum/index.cfm)

What NIEHS is Doing on Reproductive Health

• Alcohol Binges Early in Pregnancy Increase Risk of Infant Oral Clefts (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/releases/2008/alcoholbinges.cfm)
• Asthma and Wheeze in Young Women Taking Oral Contraceptives(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2006/wheeze.cfm)
• Bisphenol A (BPA) Fact Sheet (http:www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/bpa-factsheet.pdf)   (4.0MB)
• Bromodichloromethane and Pregnancy Loss(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/sbrp/researchbriefs/view.cfm?Brief_ID=140)
• Cystic Fibrosis(http://www.unctv.org/ncnow/focuson/general03.html)
• DDT and DDE: Second Generation Time to Pregnancy Effects(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2003/ddt-dde.cfm)
• Early Exposure to DES Causes Genetic Reprogramming Leading to Increases in Benign Uterine Tumors(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2005/fibroid.cfm)
• Early Exposure of Mice to DES Causes Developmental and Sperm Function Deficits(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2002/des.cfm)
• Estrogen Regulation of Antioxidant Response Element-Dependent Gene Expression(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2004/estrogen.cfm)
• Folic Acid Deficiency and Late Gestation Brain Development in Mice(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2004/brain.cfm)
• Folic Acid Intake and Arsenic Biotransformation in Mice(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2003/folate.cfm)
• Genes Regulated by Estrogen Predict Survival in Hormone-Positive Breast Cancers(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2006/estrogen.cfm)
• Genetic Stress and Toxicant-Induced Pregnancy Disruption(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/sbrp/programs/Program_detail.cfm?Project_ID=P42ES136600003&FY=2006)
• Gene Variations and the Risk of Cleft Lip or Cleft Palate(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2004/cleft.cfm)
• Inhibition of Testosterone Production by the Environmental Estrogen Bisphenol A Is Associated with Decreased Luteinizing Hormone Secretion and Decreased Steroidogenic Enzyme Gene Expression in Leydig Cells(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2004/leydig.cfm)
• In Utero Bisphenol A Exposure Leads to Abnormal Egg Development (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2007/bpa-ova.cfm)
• Lead and Age Reduce the Fertilizing Ability of Sperm(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2003/sperm.cfm)
• Male Infertility may be Caused by Epigenetic Abnormalities (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2007/abnormalities.cfm)
• Maternal Dietary Supplementation Counteracts Bisphenol A-Induced Epigenetics Changes (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2007/supplementation.cfm)
• Plastic Compounds and Birth Control Estrogen Cause Prostate Abnormalities in Mice(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2005/plastic.cfm)
• Pregnancies at Risk from September 11th Debris(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2003/debris.cfm)
• Quality of Sperm Declines as Men Age(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2006/sperm.cfm)
• Radiation-Induced Male Sterility is Due to Damage in the Somatic Testicular Cells and Not the Spermatogonia (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2007/radiation.cfm)
• Reproductive Toxicity(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/sbrp/research/research5_s6.cfm)
• Semen Quality Lower in Men from Rural Areas-Part II(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2003/semen2.cfm)
• Semen Quality Lower in Men when Mother’s Beef Consumption High During Pregnancy (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2007/semen-quality.cfm)
• Since You Asked - Bisphenol A: Questions and Answers about the Draft National Toxicology Program Brief on Bisphenol A (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/media/questions/sya-bpa.cfm)
• Sperm Abnormalities in Men Exposed to PCBs and PCDFs
• Uterine Fibroid Study (UFS)(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2003/pcb-sprm.cfm)

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General Information

• Breast Cancer Fact Sheet (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/breast-cancer-fs.pdf)   (162KB)
• Breast Cancer, Genes, and the Environment (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/cancer-genes-ppt.pdf)   (422KB)
• Environmental Diseases from A to Z (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/enviro-a-z.pdf)   (4.5MB)
• Environmental Health Perspectives, Environews by Topic: Reproductive Toxicity and Health(http://www.ehponline.org/topic/reproductive.html)
• Linking Early Environmental Exposures to Adult Diseases (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/linking-exposures.pdf)   (1MB)

For Educators

• EHP Student Edition Lesson: Are EDCs Blurring Issues of Gender? (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/edc-gender.pdf)   (325KB)
• EHP Student Edition Lesson: Beauty or the Beast? (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/beauty-or-beast.pdf)   (155KB)
• EHP Student Edition Lesson: Lead and Mercury: Comparing Two Environmental Evils (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/lead-and-mercury.pdf)   (312KB)
• EHP Student Edition Lesson: Soy: Filling in the Gaps (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/soy-gaps.pdf)   (147KB)

Related Topics

• Breast Cancer(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/conditions/breast-cancer/index.cfm)
• Consumer Health Links: Environmental Health(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/library/consumer/env_health.cfm)
• Endocrine Disruptors(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/index.cfm)
• Women’s Health(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/population/whealth/index.cfm)

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