A plastic compound found in hundreds of household products can disrupt the sexual development of a male fetus. Phthalates, (pronounced “thal ates”), are known as endocrine disruptors because although they are not hormones, they have the ability to act like hormones or disrupt the function of hormones in your body. Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health analysed data from 362 pregnant women. They found that women with higher levels of the hormone hCG, gave birth to male babies with an abnormality in anogenital distance. The higher the hCG in the mother's blood, the shorter the distance between the anus and the scrotum in the babies. A shorter anogenital distance is strongly associated with lower sperm count in males. hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is a hormone naturally produced by pregnant women. New research has shown that phthalates affect this hormone). According to epidemiologist Jennifer Adibi, "Our study is the first to show that hCG is a target of phthalate exposure in early pregnancy and to confirm previous findings that it is a critical hormone in male development". In females, the anogenital distance is supposed to be roughly twice as long as in males. Phthalates make this distance shorter in males, thus essentially feminizing the males and making them less fertile once they become adults. Phthalates aren’t only found in plastic items like bottles, food storage containers and children’s toys; they are also present in personal care products like some shampoo, perfume and moisturizer. It is impossible to avoid these chemicals entirely, but there are ways to minimize your exposure. This is particularly critical in females who plan to have children. For more information about phthalates and fertility, see our book Infertility: The Hidden Causes and how to overcome them naturally. Source