{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]],"date-time":"2026-10-05T22:52:00Z","timestamp":1791240720450,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,21]],"date-time":"2025-06-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1750464000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Alina Liepinaitien\u0117, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Environmental Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Life"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous compounds that interfere with the endocrine system by mimicking or blocking the action of endogenous hormones such as estrogens, androgens, and thyroid hormones. This systematic review aims to evaluate the current epidemiological evidence linking EDC exposure with adverse reproductive outcomes in males and females of reproductive age. A total of 14 observational studies published between 2014 and 2024 were included following structured searches in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The most commonly studied EDCs included bisphenol A (BPA), its analogs (such as bisphenol S, BPS), phthalates, parabens, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The review found consistent associations between EDC exposure and multiple reproductive endpoints, such as impaired semen quality, decreased ovarian reserve, infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), altered hormone levels\u2014specifically estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)\u2014and adverse outcomes in assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including in vitro fertilization (IVF). Despite methodological heterogeneity, the findings support the biological plausibility of EDCs in disrupting reproductive function. The review highlights the urgent need for regulatory measures, increased public awareness, and longitudinal studies to assess the cumulative effects of chronic EDC exposure on human fertility.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/life15070993","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,24]],"date-time":"2025-06-24T10:44:41Z","timestamp":1750761881000},"page":"993","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":29,"title":["Associations Between Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Exposure and Fertility Outcomes: A Decade of Human Epidemiological Evidence"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Zoe","family":"Tzouma","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Midwifery Department, Faculty of Health & Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo, 12243 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7434-8136","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Panagiota","family":"Dourou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Midwifery Department, Faculty of Health & Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo, 12243 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Athina","family":"Diamanti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Midwifery Department, Faculty of Health & Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo, 12243 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-6004-1205","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vikentia","family":"Harizopoulou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Midwifery Department, Faculty of Health & Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo, 12243 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3565-4066","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Petros","family":"Papalexis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unit of Endocrinology, 1st Department of Internal Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5897-8958","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Grigorios","family":"Karampas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieio University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece"},{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sc\u00e4nes University Hospital, 21428 Malm\u00f6-Lund, Sweden"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3268-8797","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alina","family":"Liepinaitien\u0117","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, LT-44404 Kaunas, Lithuania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7041-9980","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Audrius","family":"D\u0117del\u0117","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, LT-44404 Kaunas, Lithuania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3316-8566","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Antigoni","family":"Sarantaki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Midwifery Department, Faculty of Health & Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo, 12243 Athens, Greece"},{"name":"Kauno Kolegija Higher Education Institution, Faculty of Medicine, Pramon\u0117s av. 20, LT-50468 Kaunas, Lithuania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"E1","DOI":"10.1210\/er.2015-1010","article-title":"EDC-2: The Endocrine Society\u2019s second scientific statement on endocrine-disrupting chemicals","volume":"36","author":"Gore","year":"2015","journal-title":"Endocr. 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