60% of IVF Patients Had Mercury in Their Urine
NonToxCo Research
Science & Safety Team · 4/7/2026
Six out of ten women going through IVF had mercury in their urine. Nearly a third had cadmium. None of them worked around these metals.
Metals in Women Trying to Get Pregnant
A 2026 study in J Trace Elem Med Biol tested 50 women undergoing IVF for heavy metals. Using mass spectrometry on morning urine samples, they found mercury in 60% and cadmium in 28% of participants. No lead was detected.
These are women with no occupational metal exposure. Their contamination came from everyday sources.
How These Metals Affect Fertility
Women with measurable cadmium had lower LH levels. LH (luteinizing hormone) triggers ovulation. When it drops, getting pregnant gets harder.
Mercury was worse. Higher mercury correlated with elevated AST and ALT (liver enzymes that signal stress), higher fasting blood sugar, and higher post-load glucose. That means mercury wasn't just affecting reproduction. It was hitting the liver and metabolic system too.
These Associations Held Up
Even after adjusting for age, BMI, and time spent trying to conceive, the mercury associations stayed significant. The metal was an independent factor in these health markers.
How to Lower Your Exposure
Mercury comes from seafood (especially large predatory fish), dental amalgams, and contaminated water. Cadmium comes from cigarettes, rice, and some leafy greens. Cut these sources and choose non-toxic baby products as part of your preconception planning.
Also see glass food storage for safer alternatives.