Can microplastics in ovarian follicles reduce your egg supply?

What's actually in it

Your ovaries contain follicles, tiny fluid-filled sacs that each hold a developing egg. The follicular fluid inside these sacs provides nutrients and hormones the egg needs to mature. Microplastics from food packaging, water bottles, cosmetics, and household dust can travel through the bloodstream and accumulate in this fluid.

Women are born with a fixed number of eggs. Unlike other cells, eggs can't be replaced once they're gone.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Sci Total Environ measured microplastic concentrations in follicular fluid collected from women undergoing fertility treatments. The researchers then compared plastic levels with markers of ovarian reserve, the number and quality of remaining eggs.

Women with higher microplastic levels in their follicular fluid had lower levels of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and fewer antral follicles, both standard markers of how many eggs remain. This condition, called diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), is one of the leading causes of difficulty conceiving.

The most common plastic types found were polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, the same plastics in grocery bags, food containers, and disposable cups. The researchers believe microplastics damage follicular cells through oxidative stress and inflammation, accelerating the natural loss of eggs.

For women planning future pregnancies, reducing daily microplastic exposure may help protect egg supply. Use glass or stainless steel for food and drinks, choose microplastic-free cosmetics, and reduce indoor dust through regular cleaning.