Women With PCOS Have Significantly Higher Phthalate Levels
NonToxCo Research
Science & Safety Team · 4/7/2026
Women with PCOS had significantly higher levels of two common phthalates in their blood compared to women without the condition. The connection between plastic chemicals and this hormonal disorder keeps getting stronger.
What the Study Found
A 2026 study in BMC Endocr Disord compared 90 women with PCOS to 70 controls. They measured blood levels of two phthalates: MEHP (mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) and DEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate).
MEHP was 52% higher in the PCOS group (47.33 vs. 31.09). DEHP was 35% higher (31.03 vs. 22.98). Both differences were statistically significant.
Phthalates and Hormones
Women in the PCOS group also had higher testosterone and LH (luteinizing hormone) levels. DEHP showed correlations with testosterone, LH/FSH ratio, and estradiol in the PCOS group. In healthy women, neither phthalate correlated with any hormone markers.
That pattern suggests phthalates interact with the endocrine system differently when it's already disrupted, potentially making PCOS symptoms worse.
Where Phthalates Come From
DEHP is one of the most widely used plasticizers in the world. It's in food packaging, vinyl flooring, shower curtains, medical tubing, and soft plastics. MEHP is what your body makes when it breaks down DEHP. You absorb these chemicals through food, skin contact, and inhalation.
How to Cut Exposure
Avoid heating food in plastic. Choose glass or stainless steel containers. Skip vinyl products when alternatives exist. Look for "phthalate-free" labels on personal care products. Browse non-toxic home essentials for cleaner alternatives.
Also see non-toxic kitchen essentials for safer alternatives.