It’s not exactly a ‘feel-good’ topic I’ve chosen here, but it’s an important piece for your fertility.

So read on and learn a little more about some of the chemicals that may be in your daily chemical cocktail. – And remember that the body can handle a lot of things as long as it has the resources to do so.

We start with PFAS , as it is currently in the news. This is because high concentrations of PFAS have been found in organic eggs. The high levels probably come from the fishmeal added to the feed to ensure that the hens get enough protein.

PFAS are a group of synthetic fluorine-containing chemicals that have documented endocrine disrupting effects and can lead to reduced fertility and birth defects. A study has shown a clear link between prenatal exposure to PFAS and lower total sperm count and reduced sperm motility in young men.

From July 1, 2020, cardboard, food and baking paper with added fluorine substances were banned in Denmark, but PFAS are still found in frying pans, dental floss, cosmetics, skin creams, paints, impregnated textiles and shoes. Politicians are currently working to have the substances banned in the EU.

In addition, we have bisphenols in our cocktail, which are a whole group of problematic substances. Bisphenol A (BPA) is the best known and most studied. BPA is an endocrine disruptor and can be found in many places, including textiles, cans, plastic containers, water containers and toys.

In 2020, a ban on BPA in receipts came into effect in the EU. Receipts have previously been printed on thermal paper, which contains bisphenol A. Unfortunately, it now appears that the new receipts contain another bisphenol, namely bisphenol S. It is suspected to be similarly problematic.

In food, it is particularly pesticides that we need to be aware of. Pesticides have been well studied, and we know that they generally have a negative effect on fertility. In small children and fetuses, it affects, among other things, brain development.

A study has shown that women undergoing fertility treatment had a lower chance of becoming pregnant if they consumed a certain amount of pesticides through their diet.

You could simply register a difference in the chances of pregnancy if the women ate conventional fruit and vegetables, rather than organic. This is in line with previous animal studies that have shown the same effect. On the other hand, pesticides do not accumulate in the body, and you can therefore ‘detoxify’ the body of most pesticides by eating organic.

Another substance worth noting in our cocktail is the dye titanium dioxide (E171). The substance accumulates in the body and is suspected of destroying our genetic material. Although the EU has decided to phase out the substance in foods, you can unfortunately still find it in a wide range of products. It is still legal if they were produced before the ban came into effect. Unfortunately, you can also find them in dietary supplements – including those made for pregnant women.

We are also exposed daily to some toxic metals that are poisonous to the body. Most people are familiar with mercury, which is found in old-fashioned fillings in teeth. It also accumulates in larger predatory fish such as tuna. Some others we are particularly exposed to are cadmium, lead, aluminum and arsenic.

What they all have in common is that they resemble other minerals that our bodies need. They can therefore ‘take the place’ of other minerals in various enzyme processes, and accumulate in fatty tissue, bones and other places where the body can hide them away.

Accumulation of toxic metals in the body has been shown to have a major impact on women’s fertility and egg quality.

A new study published in Science and the Total Environment, January 2023, shows a linear correlation between the presence of toxic metals in the ovaries and the development of endometriosis.

Another study from 2021 shows a link between exposure to arsenic and lead and the risk of developing PCOS.

One of the best things you can do to avoid the accumulation of toxic metals in your body is to make sure you are well-stocked with the minerals your body needs. That way, the toxic metals can’t easily take the place of the ‘right’ minerals in your body.

Even if you do everything you can to avoid toxic exposure, it is unfortunately impossible to completely avoid them in your everyday life.

But you still achieve some effect by limiting your exposure to these chemicals, so that the cocktail effect is reduced in your body and on your fertility.

Therefore, here are 10 tips on how you can limit the effect of your everyday cocktail:

1) Eat organic – and avoid eating large predatory fish, such as tuna.

2) Avoid wrapping your acidic and salty foods in foil.

3) Choose preserved food in cardboard or glass containers rather than canned.

4) Eat a varied diet in general so that you avoid getting too much exposure to the same substances every day.

5) Always wash your new clothes and textiles before using them.

6) Go for the good brands; Swan label, Asthma & allergy label and Oeko-tex.

7) Use the ‘Kemi-luppen’ app when buying cosmetics and skincare. Look for the ‘green flask’.

8) Always say no to your receipt in the store if you don’t want your item to be exchanged.

9) Keep dust down and air out twice a day. This will reduce your exposure to PFAS and other chemicals from furniture, paint, carpets, etc.

10) Check the water quality where you live and consider whether you should install a water filter or use a filter pitcher for your drinking water.

In addition to these measures, the usual health recommendations also help strengthen your body’s natural detoxification processes; drink plenty of (clean) water, get 8 hours of quality sleep, engage in moderate exercise, sweat regularly, get enough fiber in your diet – and consider taking additional high-quality supplements.

It is difficult to know exactly where we stand on the scale in relation to toxic load, as blood tests to detect, for example, PFAS levels in the blood are quite expensive and not exactly offered to everyone in the Danish healthcare system.

I therefore always use hair mineral analyses to get a clue as to where the values of the toxic metals lie in my clients. 

The analysis can also show whether there is enough of the important minerals for fertility such as selenium, magnesium and boron. This way we can both take care of any nutritional deficiencies and at the same time look at whether there is any hidden toxic load that we can do something about before you get pregnant.

Important note here at the end!

If you feel like doing something extra to cleanse your body of toxic load, you should do it well in advance of a possible pregnancy. A good cleanse will temporarily result in higher levels of toxic substances in the blood, which can then migrate to the fetus – which is unfortunately extra vulnerable to toxic load.

If you have questions about the cocktail effect and fertility, or would like to hear more about your options for getting my help, book an appointment for a nice chat with me HERE , or send me an email at malene@fertilista.dk .

I’m here to help you!

Most affectionately

The paintings

PS: If you would like to know which supplements I generally recommend for fertility, you can download a good guide HERE .

 Selected sources and links:

Kajsa Ugelvig Petersen et al., PFAS and male reproduction: Potential effect of exposure in fetal life and early adulthood , Environment and Health, Vol. 28, No. 2, September 2022.

Fei C, et al. Maternal levels of perfluorinated chemicals and subfecundity. Hum Reprod. 2009 May;24(5):1200-5. doi: 10.1093/humrep/den490. Epub 2009 Jan 28. PMID: 19176540.

Chiu YH et al. Association Between Pesticide Residue Intake From Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables and Pregnancy Outcomes Among Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment With Assisted Reproductive Technology . JAMA Intern Med. 2018 Jan 1;178(1):17-26. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.5038. PMID: 29084307; PMCID: PMC5814112.


Sharma P, et al. Potential environmental toxicant exposure, metabolizing gene variants and risk of PCOS-A systematic review . Reprod Toxicol. 2021 Aug;103:124-132. doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2021.06.005. Epub 2021 Jun 11. PMID: 34126208.

Liang C, et al. Exposure to multiple toxic metals and polycystic ovary syndrome risk: Endocrine disrupting effect from As, Pb and Ba . Sci Total Environ. 2022 Nov 25;849:157780. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157780. Epub 2022 Aug 2. PMID: 35926607.

Heath JC, et al. Dietary selenium protects against selected signs of aging and methylmercury exposure . Neurotoxicology. 2010 Mar;31(2):169-79. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2010.01.003. Epub 2010 Jan 14. PMID: 20079371; PMCID: PMC2853007.

Newland MC, Paletz EM, Reed MN. Methylmercury and nutrition: adult effects of fetal exposure in experimental models. Neurotoxicology. 2008 Sep;29(5):783-801. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2008.06.007. Epub 2008 Jul 5. PMID: 18652843; PMCID: PMC2659504.

Shen L, et al. The association between exposure to multiple toxic metals and the risk of endometriosis: Evidence from the results of blood and follicular fluid. Sci Total Environ. 2023 Jan 10;855:158882. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158882. Epub 2022 Sep 22. PMID: 36155031.

Long-term effects of prenatal pesticide exposure, Pesticide research from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency no. 140, 2012.

https://taenk.dk/kemi/bolig-og-fritid/pfas-derfor-er-fluorstoffer-problematiske

https://taenk.dk/kemi/foedevarer-og-koekken/bisphenol-derfor-er-stoffet-uosensket

https://www.dn.dk/nyheder/professor-hold-dig-fra-ikke-okologisk-frugt-nar-du-vil-vaere-gravid/

https://www2.mst.dk/udgiv/publikationer/2012/06/978-87-92779-71-7.pdf

https://samvirke.dk/artikler/pesticider-det-fik-vi-ogsaa-i-gaar