The effects of plasticizers on the ovary

Endocrine disrupting chemicals pose a threat to health and reproduction. Plasticizers such as phthalates and bisphenols are particularly problematic because they are present in many consumer products and exposure can begin in utero and continue throughout the lifetime of the individual. Evidence suggests that these chemicals can have ancestral and transgenerational effects, making them a huge public health concern for the reproductive health of current and future generations. Studies performed in rodents or using rodent- or human-derived tissues have been critical for understanding the toxic effects of plasticizers on the ovary and their mechanisms of action. This review addresses current in vitro and rodent-based in vivo studies investigating the effects of bisphenols and phthalates on ovarian health, female reproduction, and correlations between human exposure and reproductive pathologies.