BPA (bisphenol-A) – a synthetic estrogen used to harden polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resin – is a troubling element of most plastics that we use on a daily basis. It is proven to be an endocrine disrupter, which is especially worrisome for women who are trying to get pregnant, especially those of us with PCOS.
BPA-Endocrine Disorder (source):
- Reduces the number of oocytes (cell in ovary that may undergo meiotic division to form an ovum)
- Lowers successful number of births
- Changes gene expression
- Reduces the function of Estrogen Receptor Beta
- Negatively affects mitochondrial function
- Alters hypothalamic pituitary / increases testosterone
- Lowers progesterone
- alters GnRH secretion
- Increases glucocorticoids
- heightens response to stress, elevates levels of anxiety
