Persistent organic pollutants and endometriosis: Importance of biologic media for defining exposure - the endo study

Definition of Infertility and Indications for Fertility Evaluation: Consensus Document

Minjeur M et al., 2026 · Journal of Restorative Reproductive Medicine · Free to read

Infertility is a clinical condition that is recognized by the symptom of an inability to conceive through sexual intercourse or to sustain a pregnancy, with that symptom indicating underlying male and/or female pathology. This definition of infertility was developed through a structured, consensus-informed process involving broad stakeholder engagement. Initially, multiple definitions currently used by various medical professional organizations were reviewed, and a definition document was drafted and submitted to the Board of Directors of the International Institute for Restorative Reproductive Medicine (IIRRM). All IIRRM members were invited to provide feedback on the draft. Approximately 2,500 individuals and 44 organizations from 92 countries were then invited to review the proposed document, representing clinical, scientific, patient, policy, and advocacy perspectives. Submitted comments were reviewed thematically, with suggested revisions evaluated for clarity, clinical relevance, inclusiveness, and consistency with contemporary restorative reproductive medicine. Following this review, 3 substantive changes, 18 minor changes, and 15 citation corrections were incorporated into the final draft which resulted in a revised definition intended to better reflect the medical, social, and practical realities of modern infertility evaluation and care. Final approval by the IIRRM Board of Directors was unanimous.

Subfecundity, Infertility Treatment, and Child Neurodevelopment

Kahn LG et al., 2026 · JAMA Network Open · Free full text on PubMed Central

Increasing numbers of children are conceived using infertility treatment; concerns remain about potential effects on child neurodevelopment. To evaluate whether infertility treatment is associated with child neurodevelopment and whether such an association may be attributable to underlying subfecundity. DESIGN, SETTING, This cohort study was conducted among mother-child dyads in the National Institutes of Health Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort, with infants conceived between 1998 and 2022. Associations of subfecundity and infertility treatment with neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed among children ages 2 to 10 years. Data were analyzed from May 14, 2025, to March 31, 2026. Subfecundity was defined as prior consultation for, treatment of, or diagnosis of infertility for either partner; at least 2 prior miscarriages; or ever having had unprotected heterosexual intercourse for 12 months without conceiving. Infertility treatment was categorized as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or non-IVF treatment. Harmonized caregiver responses to the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Child Behavior Checklist yielded continuous raw scores for externalizing and internalizing problems. The total raw Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) score quantified autism-like symptoms. Caregivers reported physician diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Among 15 382 mother-infant dyads, there were 14 191 unique maternal participants (mean [SD] age at delivery, 30.9 [5.33] years; 8780 parous participants [57.1%]). ASD and ADHD were diagnosed in 876 offspring (7.6%) and 819 offspring (7.1%), respectively. In generalized linear models, subfecundity was associated with higher externalizing problem and SRS scores among all pregnancies (externalizing problems: b = 0.47 [95% CI, 0.14-0.81]; SRS score: b = 1.08 [95% CI, 0.01-2.14]) and when restricted to natural conceptions (externalizing problems: b = 0.45 [95% CI, 0.07-0.83]; SRS score: b = 1.12 [95% CI, -0.09 to 2.34]). Offspring of parents with subfecundity had higher odds of ASD (overall: odds ratio [OR], 1.27 [95% CI, 1.03-1.57]; natural conceptions: OR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.04-1.64]). Children conceived via non-IVF treatment had higher odds of ADHD compared with those conceived via natural conception with subfecundity (OR, 1.77 [95% CI, 1.16-2.68]) or without subfecundity (OR, 1.54 [95% CI, 1.05-2.25]). There were no significant associations for IVF treatment. In this large US cohort study, subfecundity was associated with elevated scores for caregiver-reported symptoms of behavioral problems and higher odds of ASD diagnosis, independent of infertility treatment. Non-IVF treatment was associated with ADHD, warranting further research into specific indications for treatment that may increase risk of offspring neurodevelopmental problems.

Potential increase of the U.S. total fertility rate resulting from restorative treatment of unresolved subfertility: a simulation study

Stanford JB et al., 2026 · Frontiers in Reproductive Health · Free full text on PubMed Central

Background The total fertility rate (TFR) in most developed countries has been declining for decades. In the United States (U.S.), the total fertility rate has remained below replacement level since 2007. Subfertility affects at least 15% of women or couples over their reproductive lifespan and contributes to reduced TFR. Restorative reproductive medicine (RRM) is a medically based approach to subfertility care that can be delivered in primary care settings to increase live birth rates. Objective To estimate the theoretical impact of use of RRM among subfertile couples in the United States. Methods We conducted a simulation study. Model inputs included the number of women of reproductive age in the United States by 5-year age groups; current age-specific and total fertility rates; the proportion of women in each age group with subfertility; estimated spontaneous live birth rates among women with subfertility; and age-specific crude live birth rates with RRM treatment. We evaluated fifteen scenarios including sensitivity analyses: two different varying assumptions for spontaneous conception (25% vs. 50%), two levels of RRM utilization among subfertile women (20% vs. 50%), three different estimates of the number of subfertile women who would be potentially eligible for RRM treatment, and 4 different levels of effectiveness (live birth) from RRM treatment. Results The baseline TFR in the United States was 1.77 during 2015-2019, and 13.5% of women ages 20-44 were estimated to have subfertility. In a conservative scenario (50% spontaneous births; 20% RRM utilization; married women trying to conceive for at least 12 months, 20.7% RRM live births), the TFR increased to 1.79, representing a 1.0% relative increase (absolute +0.02). In an optimistic scenario (25% spontaneous births; 50% RRM utilization; all subfertile women), the TFR increased to 2.02, a 14.5% relative increase (absolute +0.26), approaching replacement-level fertility. Conclusion Simulation results suggest that expanding access to RRM within primary care settings could meaningfully increase the U.S. TFR, by reducing unresolved subfertility. Realizing this potential would require policy and health system changes to address workforce capacity, insurance coverage, and equitable access. These findings underscore the potential contribution of non-IVF fertility care pathways in addressing population-level fertility decline.

Restorative Reproductive Medicine Restricting Access to Care

Minjeur M et al., 2026 · JAMA

Persistent lipophilic environmental chemicals and endometriosis: the ENDO Study

Buck Louis GM et al., 2012 · Environ Health Perspect · Free full text on PubMed Central

An equivocal literature exists regarding the relation between persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs) and endometriosis in women, with differences attributed to methodologies. We assessed the association between POPs and the odds of an endometriosis diagnosis and the consistency of findings by biological medium and study cohort. Using a matched cohort design, we assembled an operative cohort of women 18-44 years of age undergoing laparoscopy or laparotomy at 14 participating clinical centers from 2007 to 2009 and a population-based cohort matched on age and residence within a 50-mile catchment area of the clinical centers. Endometriosis was defined as visualized disease in the operative cohort and as diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging in the population cohort. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each POP in relation to an endometriosis diagnosis, with separate models run for each medium (omental fat in the operative cohort, serum in both cohorts) and cohort. Adjusted models included age, body mass index, breast-feeding conditional on parity, cotinine, and lipids. Concentrations were higher in omental fat than in serum for all POPs. In the operative cohort, γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH) was the only POP with a significant positive association with endometriosis [per 1-SD increase in log-transformed γ-HCH: adjusted OR (AOR) = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.59]; β-HCH was the only significant predictor in the population cohort (per 1-SD increase in log-transformed β-HCH: AOR = 1.72; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.72). Using a matched cohort design, we found that cohort-specific and biological-medium-specific POPs were associated with endometriosis, underscoring the importance of methodological considerations when interpreting findings.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals and endometriosis

Smarr MM et al., 2016 · Fertility and sterility

Endometriosis is an estrogen dependent gynecologic disease with lasting implications for many women's fertility, somatic health, and overall quality of life. Growing evidence suggests that endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may be etiologically involved in the development and severity of disease. We weigh the available human evidence focusing on EDCs and endometriosis, restricting to research that has individually quantified chemical concentrations for women, included a comparison group of unaffected women, and used multivariable analytic techniques. Evidence supporting an environmental etiology for endometriosis includes metals/trace elements, dioxins, and other persistent organic pollutants, as well as nonpersistent chemicals, such as benzophenones and phthalates. To address the equivocal findings for various EDCs, future research directions for filling data gaps include [1] use of integrated clinical and population sampling frameworks allowing for incorporation of new diagnostic modalities; [2] the collection of various biologic media, including target tissues for quantifying exposures; [3] study designs that offer various comparison groups to assess potentially shared etiologies with other gynecologic disorders; and [4] novel laboratory and statistical approaches that fully explore all measured EDCs for the assessment of mixtures and low dose effects and the use of directed acyclic graphs and supporting causal analysis for empirically delineating relationships between EDCs and endometriosis.

Bisphenol A and phthalates and endometriosis: the Endometriosis: Natural History, Diagnosis and Outcomes Study

Buck Louis GM et al., 2013 · Fertil Steril · Free full text on PubMed Central

To assess in utero exposures and the odds of an endometriosis diagnosis. Matched cohort design. Fourteen participating clinical centers in geographically defined areas in Utah and California. PATIENT(S): Operative cohort comprised 473 women undergoing laparoscopy/laparotomy, and an ageand residence-matched population cohort comprising 127 women undergoing pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 2007-2009. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Women completed standardized interviews before surgery or MRI regarding in utero exposures: mothers' lifestyle during the index pregnancy, and the index woman's gestation and birth size. Endometriosis was defined as visually confirmed disease in the operative cohort, and MRI visualized disease in the population cohort. The odds of an endometriosis diagnosis and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated for each exposure by cohort using logistic regression and adjusting for current smoking, age at menarche, body mass index, and study site. RESULT(S): Endometriosis was diagnosed in 41% and 11% of women in the operative and population cohorts, respectively. In the primary analysis, adjust odds ratios (AORs) were elevated for maternal vitamin usage (1.27; 95% CI, 0.85-1.91), maternal cigarette smoking (1.16; 95% CI = 0.61-2.24), and low birth weight (1.1; 95% CI, 0.92-1.32). Reduced odds were observed for maternal usage of caffeine (0.99; 95% CI, 0.64-1.54), alcohol (0.82; 95% CI, 0.35-1.94), paternal cigarette smoking (0.72; 95% CI, 0.43-1.19), and preterm delivery (0.98; 95% CI, 0.47-2.03). Sensitivity analyses mostly upheld the primary results except for a decreased AOR for preterm birth (0.41; 95% CI, 0.18-0.94) when restricting to visualized and histologically confirmed endometriosis in the operative cohort. CONCLUSION(S): In utero exposures were not statistically significantly associated with the odds of an endometriosis diagnosis in either cohort.

Perfluorochemicals and endometriosis: the ENDO study

Louis GMB et al., 2012 · Epidemiology · Free full text on PubMed Central

Environmental chemicals may be associated with endometriosis. No published research has focused on the possible role of perfluorochemicals (PFCs) despite their widespread presence in human tissues. We formulated two samples. The first was an operative sample comprising 495 women aged 18-44 years scheduled for laparoscopy/laparotomy at one of 14 participating clinical sites in the Salt Lake City or San Francisco area, 2007-2009. The second was a population-based sample comprising 131 women matched to the operative sample on age and residence within a 50-mile radius of participating clinics. Interviews and anthropometric assessments were conducted at enrollment, along with blood collection for the analysis of nine PFCs, which were quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Endometriosis was defined based on surgical visualization (in the operative sample) or magnetic resonance imaging (in the population sample). Using logistic regression, we estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each PFC (log-transformed), adjusting for age and body mass index, and then parity. Serum perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA; OR = 1.89 [95% CI = 1.17-3.06]) and perfluorononanoic acid (2.20 [1.02-4.75]) were associated with endometriosis in the operative sample; findings were moderately attenuated with parity adjustment (1.62 [0.99-2.66] and 1.99 [0.91-4.33], respectively). Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (1.86 [1.05-3.30]) and PFOA (2.58 [1.18-5.64]) increased the odds for moderate/severe endometriosis, although the odds were similarly attenuated with parity adjustment (OR = 1.50 and 1.86, respectively). Select PFCs were associated with an endometriosis diagnosis. These associations await corroboration.