In a groundbreaking revelation unveiled at the 41st Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) held in Paris, new scientific research has detected microplastics within human reproductive fluids. This pioneering study has brought to light an alarming and previously underexplored dimension of environmental contaminants intertwining directly with human fertility, emphasizing the urgency to understand microplastics’ potential effects on reproductive health. The detection of these tiny plastic particles, many of which are commonly found in everyday consumer products, within the very fluids essential for conception marks a novel frontier in reproductive biology and environmental health research.
The research team focused their meticulous investigation on follicular fluid collected from twenty-nine women and seminal fluid obtained from twenty-two men. These reproductive fluids are fundamental players in the processes of natural conception and assisted reproductive technologies alike, acting as the immediate environments nurturing gametes and facilitating fertilization. Employing advanced laser direct infrared microscopy coupled with rigorous chemical pretreatment to avoid contamination, the scientists were able to identify and characterize microplastic particles amidst these complex biological matrices with unprecedented precision.
Diverse polymer types were uncovered throughout both fluid samples, encompassing some of the most widely used plastics such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), and polyurethane (PU). The omnipresence of these polymers in human reproductive fluids raises critically important concerns about the pathways through which microplastics invade human biology and the subsequent biological processes they may disrupt. Notably, the majority of these polymers are components of everyday materials ranging from packaging to textiles, underscoring the pervasiveness of plastic pollution.
Quantitative analysis revealed notably high prevalence rates: an astounding 69% of follicular fluid samples from women contained microplastics, with PTFE standing out as the most frequently detected polymer, present in 31% of the samples examined. Following PTFE, polypropylene constituted 28%, with polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, polyethylene, polyurethane, and polystyrene appearing sequentially in descending frequencies. These findings suggest a complex, heterogeneous mixture of microplastic exposure and accumulation within the ovarian microenvironment, whose implications for oocyte health and maturation demand urgent exploration.
Similarly, more than half of the male seminal fluid samples—55%—meticulously analyzed demonstrated the presence of microplastic particles. Again, PTFE emerged as the dominant polymer, detected in 41% of these samples, with polystyrene at 14%, followed by polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, and polyurethane, albeit at comparatively lower concentrations. The detection in seminal fluid highlights the potential for these microscopic pollutants to infiltrate the male reproductive tract, raising fundamental questions regarding the impact on sperm viability, motility, and DNA integrity.
Stringent protocols ensured sample integrity throughout the study, with the researchers exclusively utilizing glass containers for collection and storage to negate external plastic contamination. Chemical treatments were applied prior to the microscopic analysis to isolate and identify particulate polymers specifically, enabling laser direct infrared microscopy to provide a robust, chemical-specific fingerprint of the microplastic particles. This methodological rigor strengthens the reliability of the findings, confirming that the detected microplastics are intrinsic to the biological fluids rather than extrinsic contaminants.
Dr. Emilio Gomez-Sanchez, the principal investigator spearheading this research, highlighted the significance of these findings by referencing earlier studies that have identified microplastics in various human tissues and organs. However, he emphasized that detecting such pollutants within reproductive fluids is particularly disconcerting due to the fluids’ role in human fertility. Despite this, Dr. Gomez-Sanchez cautioned against immediate alarm, noting that while the presence of microplastics is frequent, their direct causative effects on fertility remain to be conclusively demonstrated.
Microplastics, defined as plastic fragments smaller than five millimeters, are notorious for their environmental persistence and capacity to permeate diverse ecosystems worldwide. Their ingress into human biological systems represents an emerging and complex threat to public health. Existing literature from animal studies has drawn correlations between microplastic accumulation and physiological disturbances including inflammation, oxidative stress through free radical generation, DNA damage, premature cellular aging, and interference with endocrine signaling pathways. These pathways collectively could plausibly compromise gamete quality and reproductive success, though verification in humans remains pending.
The study’s researchers intend to expand their investigation by including a larger sample cohort paired with comprehensive lifestyle and environmental exposure assessments. This approach will allow for a more nuanced understanding of risk factors, exposure sources, and potential dose-response relationships between microplastic presence and germ cell quality. Future research phases will also endeavor to elucidate whether microplastic contamination correlates with measurable changes in oocyte and sperm characteristics, potentially unmasking actionable biomarkers for reproductive toxicity.
Acknowledging the complexity of human fertility impacted by a multitude of variables—including age, genetic predispositions, and overall health—Dr. Gomez-Sanchez reinforced that the current findings should not instill fear among those attempting conception. Rather, they underscore the importance of adopting pragmatic measures to reduce microplastic exposure in daily life. Recommendations include utilizing glass rather than plastic for food storage and heating, and curtailing consumption of bottled water made from plastic, as practical strategies to minimize microplastic intake and potential systemic accumulation.
In a supporting commentary, Professor Dr. Carlos Calhaz-Jorge, the Immediate Past Chair of ESHRE, reflected on the broader implications of environmental contaminants impacting reproductive health. He acknowledged the challenges inherent in objectively measuring such influences but emphasized that the detection of microplastics in a majority of follicular and seminal fluids from the study cohort adds weight to advocating for reduced plastic use in everyday life. The evidence encourages scientific and public health communities alike to recognize these particles as an additional factor warranting attention within the multifactorial landscape of reproductive health risks.
These initial findings represent a critical stepping-stone toward unraveling the intricate relationships between anthropogenic pollutants and human reproductive biology. The upcoming publication of the study abstract in Human Reproduction, one of the foremost scientific journals in the field, promises to catalyze further research efforts. This new awareness of microplastic contamination within reproductive fluids may ultimately lead to revised clinical guidelines, risk mitigation strategies, and innovative interventions aimed at safeguarding fertility in an increasingly polluted world.
As society grapples with the relentless expansion of plastic pollution, this study spotlights a hitherto hidden but perhaps profoundly impactful route by which microplastics might compromise human well-being. Interdisciplinary collaboration bridging environmental science, reproductive medicine, toxicology, and public health will be essential to fully characterize these emerging threats and develop effective countermeasures. Meanwhile, prudent individual and collective choices to curtail plastic exposure remain a vital and tangible means to protect reproductive potential for current and future generations.
Subject of Research: Detection and characterization of microplastics in human follicular and seminal fluids and their potential implications for fertility.
Article Title: Unveiling the Hidden Danger: Detection and Characterisation of Microplastics in Human Follicular and Seminal Fluids.
News Publication Date: Wednesday, 2 July 2025.
References:
[1] Gomez-Sanchez, E., et al. (2025) Unveiling the Hidden Danger: Detection and characterisation of microplastics in human follicular and seminal fluids. Human Reproduction.
[2] Wang, L., Yin, Y., & He, X. (2024). The hidden threat: Unraveling the impact of microplastics on reproductive health. Science of the Total Environment, 912, 173177.
Keywords: Reproductive biology, reproductive disorders, environmental issues, microplastics, fertility, human reproduction, environmental pollution, reproductive toxicology, assisted reproduction, follicular fluid, seminal fluid, PTFE, polypropylene, oxidative stress.
