Should dads-to-be also worry about plastic chemistry before trying for a baby?
Yes. Higher BPA and BPF in dad's body around conception link to worse IVF outcomes.
What's actually in it
BPA and its replacements BPF and BPS show up in men's urine from food packaging, thermal receipts, and plastic-bottled drinks. They mess with sperm DNA, sperm count, and the early embryo's first cell divisions.
Most preconception advice focuses on moms. The dad's body chemistry at the time of conception matters too.
What the research says
A 2026 study in Int J Hyg Environ Health followed couples going through IVF and measured the dad's preconception urinary BPA and BPF. Higher levels in dad lined up with worse IVF outcomes: lower fertilization, fewer good embryos, and lower live birth rates.
The dose mattered. Cleaning up dad's exposure for a few months before trying made a real difference.
For dads-to-be: switch to glass food storage, drink water from a steel bottle, skip thermal receipts, and avoid canned food and drinks. Cut down on shaving and cologne products with phthalate-containing fragrance. Three months is the sperm cycle, so changes take effect within that window.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Paternal preconception urinary concentrations of bisphenol A and F in relation to in vitro fertilization outcomes: A prospective cohort study. | Int J Hyg Environ Health | 2026 |
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