Can microplastics from follicular fluid affect fertility and ovarian health?

What's actually in it

Follicular fluid surrounds the developing egg in your ovaries. It should be a protected environment, but microplastics from food, water, and household products have now been found there. These particles reach the ovaries through the bloodstream after you ingest or inhale them.

What the research says

A 2026 study in J Hazard Mater measured microplastics in follicular fluid from women undergoing fertility treatment. The researchers found microplastics in the fluid and linked higher concentrations to diminished ovarian reserve, meaning fewer eggs available for fertilization.

Diminished ovarian reserve leads to lower fertility and earlier menopause. If microplastics are contributing to this decline, women trying to conceive may be affected by their lifetime of plastic exposure.

Reduce microplastic exposure by using glass and stainless steel for food and drinks. Filter your water. Minimize processed, heavily packaged foods.