अमूर्त

Heavy metals and endometriosis: what are the effects on reproductive-age women?

Dongmei Ji

A new study looked at the possible effect of exposure to four heavy metals on the risk of endometriosis, a painful and sometimes disabling condition that can lead to infertility. It affects up to a tenth of reproductive-age women. The current study focuses on lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, all of which have been linked to the disordered functioning of the human reproductive system. Some associations include menstrual disorders, adverse pregnancy outcomes, DNA damage and mitochondrial dysfunction, and higher breast and endometrial cancer risk. They are therefore considered endocrine-disrupting metals.