Melanie Cole, MS (Host): What are microplastics and what do they have to do with fertility? We're talking about that today, on Fertility Talk with RSCNJ, the Reproductive Science Center of New Jersey. I'm Melanie Cole and joining me today is Dr. Alan Martinez. He's a specialist in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, and he's the Clinical Director of the Reproductive Science Center of New Jersey.

 Dr. Martinez, it's always such a pleasure to have you join us. Why don't we just start by telling the listeners, what are microplastics? Where do we find them? What even are they?

Alan Martinez, MD: Well, thank you for having me today as well, Melanie. I appreciate the opportunity. Microplastics are essentially additives or chemicals that are known as endocrine disruptor chemicals, or EDCs, and they are found commonly in many of the plasticizers that we use in our society. That can include such things as bisphenol A, BPA, which everybody has heard about BPA free water bottles, plastics, and things like this.

So these chemicals can affect and leach into the system and be found within the reproductive system as well as many parts of the organs of the body, and they could potentially have an effect on fertility.

Host: Well, then what do we know about the relationship between microplastics that you've just told us about and infertility? How might they affect the reproductive organs in both men and women?

Alan Martinez, MD: Yes, that is a good point. The negative effects exist in both men and women. So in men specifically, it can affect several parameters of sperm production. So you can have a lower concentration of sperm, you may have impaired movement or motility, and it can affect the ability of sperm to essentially fertilize an egg. And these have been demonstrated in many models, specifically in the research, environment with mice and animal research studies.

With the female, we have also found that it may impair and affect egg development that's important for fertility. It can potentially affect the lining of the uterus or implantation, and it may have effects continuing throughout pregnancy with the placental development.

So those are just a few avenues of how these microplastics or EDCs, endocrine disrupting chemicals, can have a negative impact on fertility.

Host: Dr. Martinez, they're everywhere. I mean, plastic is everywhere. Are there certain things, you mentioned BPA, there's phthalates, there's so much in plastic. How do we know? Is it something that's labeled? Is it something that we can even steer clear of or stay away from? I mean, they're just everywhere.

Alan Martinez, MD: Yes, unfortunately, they're very common in many of the things we're exposed through throughout our daily life. I think the way we can minimize aspects of exposure, is to eat more natural raw foods, unprocessed foods. So anything that's processed and is in containers can potentially expose individuals.

Another avenue is that using plastics that are known to have these chemicals. You want to search for a BPA free plastics, but maybe heating up things in the microwave that are non plastic glass containers and those kinds of things. So we can think about limiting our exposures in that way.

We can't reduce all aspects of this because it's in our water supply and various elements of our life, but if we can be cognizant and aware of staying away from components or chemicals that are exposed to plastic containers, we can potentially help reduce the exposure in patients.

Host: I'm so glad that you mentioned microwaving in plastic and the containers that we're seeing. I mean, I myself am someone who's so aware now of all the plastic and bringing my own bags to the grocery store and not using those plastic produce bags anymore. I got some recyclable mesh bags now. So there are so many ways that we can reduce our exposure to these, but if someone is having fertility issues, Dr. Martinez, how do we know if that is the connection? Is there any test? Are there any treatments, anything that can tell us that that is part of their reproductive issues?

Alan Martinez, MD: Unfortunately, that is a difficult thing to ascertain. We have evidence within animal studies and we know it can affect components from both the male and the female side of fertility. But the one thing we can do is just be cognizant and aware of what we're exposed to. We currently do not have any tests that can say, okay, this is a unhealthy or unsafe level of these microplastics or plasticizers, but rather we just have to be aware of our exposure. We have to continue to advocate for creating products that are potentially less reproductive harmful than other containers and manmade agents.

And then we just have to continue with the evaluation of fertility and the treatments that we do. So I think all of that awareness and knowing that you could limit your exposure by the choices you make in your own life, that is the way that currently is the best weapon we have against excessive exposures to these components.

Host: What great information and not something that everybody really knows that much about. I'd love a final thought from you, Dr. Martinez, on how you are counseling your patients. People come in. They are looking to do infertility treatments. Do you mention microplastics and environmental factors? Things that they can try? What you've said here today on this vodcast, do you mention this to them? And just give us your best advice.

Alan Martinez, MD: Yes, I think that after the evaluation, especially from the male perspective, if we have some decreased sperm parameters, then it definitely is an timeframe of when I discuss it with patients and their exposure to environmental chemicals, because it's strongest in the evidence exists for the males.

For the females, I think I take a global approach, and it's best to understand, okay, what are the other elements of the fertility evaluation? What can you control? I want to give my patients a sense of control. So, what they eat and what they put in their daily intake as far as dietary components and foods, that is a major avenue that I discuss with them.

And in that context, we will discuss these endocrine disrupting chemicals in ways just to think, okay, you don't have to be so particular and try to avoid everything, but you want to be aware and you want to eat as natural as possible. You want to maintain balance in your diet and what you're eating, natural foods, a balanced diet.

And I think that that is the best thing, along with these other awareness issues that patients can have to target potentially the negative effects of these EDC chemicals.

Host: I think you just really mentioned it, awareness, because as I said before, I didn't even know about the microplastics in the environment. I just knew that we were just using too much. But this link to reproductive infertility is such an interesting link. So thank you so much for making us aware of that today, Dr. Martinez. You are just always such a great and educational guest. And for more information, please visit fertilityNJ.com to get connected with one of our providers. That concludes this episode of Fertility Talk with RSCNJ, the Reproductive Science Center of New Jersey. I'm Melanie Cole. Thanks so much for joining us today.