Can a mother's chemical exposure during pregnancy affect her son's fertility as an adult?

What's actually in it

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) include pesticides, plasticizers like phthalates, and solvents found in cleaning products, personal care items, and food packaging. These chemicals can cross the placenta and reach the developing fetus.

The male reproductive system is built during a critical window in fetal development. Sex hormones like testosterone direct the formation of the testes and future sperm-producing tissue. If EDCs interfere with that hormonal signaling during this window, the effect can show up decades later in the man's reproductive health.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Reprod Biomed Online examined adult men whose mothers had been exposed to EDCs during pregnancy. Researchers measured testosterone, LH, and FSH levels in the adult sons.

Sons born to mothers with higher prenatal EDC exposure had lower testosterone and altered LH and FSH ratios compared to sons of less-exposed mothers. These are the hormones that drive sperm production and overall male fertility.

The chemicals involved included pesticides and solvents from common household and occupational sources, not industrial accident-level exposures. The study adds to a body of research showing the male reproductive system is particularly vulnerable to prenatal chemical disruption.

For pregnant people, the most practical steps are reducing contact with pesticide residues on food (buying organic for the dirty dozen), avoiding fragrance-heavy personal care products, and using fragrance-free cleaning products at home.