Reproductive and developmental effects of phthalates

The endocrine disrupting chemicals were associated with the abnormalities of normal reproductive function and hormone signaling. Phthalates are common environmental chemicals with endocrine interference and currently one of the most widely used plasticizers. Since these chemicals are prevalent in plastics, personal care products, and insecticides, humans and wildlife are exposed to these chemicals every day. Since phthalates have been found to have deleterious impacts on both male and female fertility in humans and animal models according to the literature, the potential adverse effects of prenatal or adult exposure to phthalates on the reproductive health of future generations has made it an important issue for researchers. Various animal and human studies of phthalate exposure have clearly demonstrated that sperm concentration, motility, and/or morphology have a deleterious effect on semen quality. These phthalates may have estrogenic and/or anti-androgenic impacts that disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPGA), damage to sperm DNA, or cause changes in sperm epigenetics. The basic properties and knowledge of the potential impacts of phthalates on reproductive systems for male and female are covered in this chapter.