PFAS and Fertility: What the Science Says for Men and Women

The connection in brief

A growing body of research links PFAS exposure to reduced fertility in both women and men. In women, higher PFAS blood levels have been associated with longer time-to-pregnancy and lower odds of conceiving in a given cycle. In men, PFAS exposure has been associated with reduced sperm quality and altered reproductive hormones. For couples trying to conceive, it’s an exposure worth understanding and reducing.

This article focuses on fertility. For pregnancy-specific risks once conception occurs, see PFAS exposure during pregnancy, and for the full health picture, how PFAS affects your health.

What the evidence shows in women

Several epidemiological studies have found that women with higher PFAS blood levels experience:

• Longer time-to-pregnancy and reduced fecundability (the probability of conceiving in a given menstrual cycle).
• Associations with irregular menstrual cycles and, in some studies, earlier menopause — both signals of altered reproductive hormone function.
• Possible effects on egg development and ovarian reserve, an area of active research.

Because PFAS can interfere with estrogen and other hormone signaling, these reproductive associations are biologically plausible as well as observed.

What the evidence shows in men

Fertility is not solely a women’s-health issue, and the research reflects that. Studies of men with higher PFAS exposure have reported:

• Lower sperm count and reduced sperm motility/quality.
• Altered reproductive hormones, including changes in testosterone signaling.

These findings make PFAS reduction relevant to both partners when planning a pregnancy.

How PFAS may interfere

PFAS are endocrine disruptors — they can mimic or interfere with the body’s hormones. Reproduction depends on precisely timed hormonal signaling in both sexes, so even modest disruption to estrogen, testosterone, or the regulatory feedback loops can plausibly affect fertility. The compounds also cross the placenta and appear in breast milk, which is why exposure before and during pregnancy draws particular attention.

What you can do

1. Know your exposure. Check your ZIP code against EPA UCMR 5 data to see whether PFAS are in your water — a step worth taking for both partners.
2. Reduce it at the tap. A reverse osmosis or NSF/ANSI 53-certified filter removes most PFAS — see how to remove PFAS and our filter reviews.
3. Reduce other sources. PFAS also come from some food packaging, stain- and water-resistant treatments, and older nonstick cookware. Learn more in what are PFAS.
4. Talk to a clinician. If you’re struggling to conceive and have known high PFAS exposure, raise it with your doctor or fertility specialist.

Fertility is multifactorial, and PFAS is one of many influences — not a sole cause. But because it’s an avoidable exposure with consistent reproductive associations, reducing it is a reasonable, low-cost step for couples planning a family.

This article is part of our PFAS and your health guide, which covers each major health effect with primary sources.

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References

Editorial standards: primary sources only for health-effect claims. See our editorial standards page for the sourcing rubric.

1. ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Perfluoroalkyls (2021, updated 2023). Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry — documents reproductive and developmental effects of PFAS. atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles
2. C8 Science Panel Probable Link Reports (2011–2013). Findings on PFOA exposure and reproductive outcomes, including pregnancy-induced hypertension. c8sciencepanel.org
3. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2022). Guidance on PFAS Exposure, Testing, and Clinical Follow-Up.
4. NIEHS / NIH research on endocrine disruption. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences — background on PFAS as endocrine-disrupting chemicals and reproductive effects. niehs.nih.gov
5. EPA UCMR 5 Occurrence Data (released January 2026). Source of U.S. drinking-water PFAS occurrence data. epa.gov/dwucmr