Pregnancy and BPA – an unresolved issue

Abstract

BPA, or Bisphenol A, was classified as an endocrine disruptor in the last few years, many reports demonstrating its adverse outcomes upon maternal and fetal development. The purpose of this systematic review is to sum up the present knowledge. Regarding BPA and fetal growth restriction, there were found contradictory results, depending on what trimester the BPA levels were evaluated. Especially when BPA exposure in maternal urine was evaluated in the third trimester, one study showed that boys had a smaller weight and the femoral length was reduced on both sexes. Nine studies showed a statistically negative association between BPA and preterm birth, especially when BPA was evaluated in the third trimester of pregnancy. The BPA level measured in urine was associated in all the studies with an increased risk of unexplained recurrent miscarriages, regardless the bisphenol analogues. As a conclusion, we agreed that further research might be necessary to examine what levels of BPA are influencing preterm birth and fetal growth, to provide new preventive measures for pregnant women, as well as for those who intend to become pregnant, and to limit the use of similar compounds of BPA.