Effects of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances on Female Reproductive Health and Outcomes of Assisted Reproductive Technology

doi:10.12280/gjszjk.20250287

Abstract

Abstract:

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exist in life area and consumer products, and enter the human body through breathing, diet, skin contact and other ways. PFASs cause the adverse consequence to female reproductive health. Studies have shown that PFAS can affect ovarian function by interfering with the endocrine axis, damaging mitochondria, inducing oxidative stress, disrupting gap junction communication, and regulating epigenetics, and resulting in reproductive toxicity, which is also related to many diseases of female reproductive system such as polycystic ovary syndrome, premature ovarian insufficiency, diminished ovarian reserve and endometriosis. In infertile people treated with assisted reproductive technology (ART), it was also found that the level of PFAS was negatively correlated with oocyte yield, the number of two pronuclei, and embryo quality, adversely affecting ART outcomes. We review the impact of PFAS on female reproductive health and ART outcomes, in order to provide a new evidence for the subsequent research.

Key words: Fluorine compounds, Reproductive health, Reproductive techniques, assisted, Ovary, Female urogenital diseases

XIONG Min, YANG Dan-dan, CHAI Meng-han, ZHANG Qian-nan, ZHANG Zhi-guo, CHEN Bei-li. Effects of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances on Female Reproductive Health and Outcomes of Assisted Reproductive Technology[J]. Journal of International Reproductive Health/Family Planning, 2025, 44(5): 411-415.

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