Microplastics Found in Semen and Ovaries! Growing Threat to Fertility?

Microplastics Found in Semen and Ovaries: Plastic has inavade everywhere and now it has gone into our reproductive systems! In a groundbreaking yet unsettling discovery, scientists have found microplastics, tiny plastic fragments less than 5 millimeters in size, in human semen and follicular fluid, raising urgent questions about their potential impact on reproductive health. The study, published on July 1, 2025, in the journal Human Reproduction and presented at the 41st Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) in Paris, detected microplastics in 69% of follicular fluid samples from 25 women and 55% of seminal fluid samples from 18 men. Follicular fluid, the liquid surrounding an egg in an ovarian follicle, and seminal fluid are critical components in human reproduction, making these findings particularly alarming.

How the research was done?

The research, led by Dr. Emilio Gómez-Sánchez from the University of Murcia and conducted at Next Fertility Murcia in Spain, analyzed samples from women undergoing egg retrieval for assisted reproduction and men undergoing semen analysis. Using advanced imaging techniques combining microscopy and infrared laser, the team identified nine types of microplastics, including polyamide (nylon), polyurethane, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, commonly used in nonstick cookware), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET, found in plastic bottles). Over 50% of follicular fluid samples contained polyamide, polyurethane, and polyethylene, while 56% of semen samples contained PTFE. Concentrations were generally low, with most samples containing one to two particles, though some had up to five. Notably, microplastic levels were higher in follicular fluid than in semen, though both were lower compared to non-plastic particles, the nature of which was not disclosed in the study abstract.

No organ is safe!

This discovery builds on prior research, including a 2024 study in China that found microplastics in all 40 semen samples tested from healthy men, and another in Italy detecting them in six out of ten samples. These findings, coupled with the new Spanish study, suggest microplastics are pervasive in human reproductive systems. Animal studies have linked microplastic exposure to reduced sperm counts, sperm deformities, and hormonal disruptions, hinting at potential risks for human fertility. However, Dr. Gómez-Sánchez cautions that while microplastics are present, their impact on egg or sperm quality remains unconfirmed in humans. “Presence is not the same as impact,” he noted, emphasizing the need for further research to explore whether microplastics could impair reproductive outcomes.

The study also highlights the role of plastic-related chemicals, such as bisphenols, phthalates, and PFAs, which can leach from microplastics and are known to disrupt hormones, potentially leading to health issues like cancers, respiratory diseases, and skin irritation. Experts like Dr. Xiaozhong Yu from the University of New Mexico stress the urgency of quantifying exposure levels to determine when adverse effects may occur. Meanwhile, Professor Dr. Carlos Calhaz-Jorge, former ESHRE chair, called the findings “an additional argument in favor of avoiding the generalized use of plastics in our daily lives.”

Microplastics, found everywhere from Mount Everest to the Mariana Trench, enter the human body through food, water, and air. Recent studies have detected them in meat, produce, breast milk, blood, and even brain tissue, underscoring their ubiquity. To reduce exposure, experts recommend using glass containers for food storage, avoiding heating plastics, and opting for organic foods to minimize contact with plastic-based pesticides.