PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS OF ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE CONNECTED WITH FEMALE INFERTILITY

Abstract

This study reviewed recent articles on prevalence and risk exposure of pollutants connected with female sterility. Occupational and regular exposure to mixtures of metals and other chemicals induce oxidative stress which further induce hormonal imbalance and result to damage cell membrane, cell apoptosis, damage proteins, lipid and nucleic acid, reduced growth and development of oocytes, increase mRNA in anterior pituitary, reduced follicular development and growth, poor oocytes quality, poor reproductive outcome, damage DNA, embryo fragmentation, implantation failure, abortion, ovarian aging and steroidogenesis, folliculogenesis, impaired placentation, congenital abnormalities and formation of numerous developmental abnormalities. This study revealed an association between environmental contaminants and unexplained infertility, women with unexplained infertility have decreased ovarian sensitivity to gonadotropins, resulting in higher circulating gonadotropin levels, including higher mean serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. Asides from environmental contaminant effects on female infertility, exposure to environmental contaminants could also increase the risk of suffering spontaneous abortion, stillbirths, premature delivery, gestational diabetes mellitus, pregnancy hypertension, preeclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, intrauterine growth restriction, low birth weight, harm the growing baby leading to foetal abnormality and congenital disabilities To manage female infertility, risk exposures to heavy metals should be reduced to minimal or zero level.