Phthalates and Bisphenol A: Presence in Blood Serum and Follicular Fluid of Italian Women Undergoing Assisted Reproduction Techniques
Donatella Paoli,
Francesco Pallotti,
Anna Pia Dima,
Elena Albani,
Carlo Alviggi,
Franco Causio,
Carola Conca Dioguardi,
Alessandro Conforti,
Rosanna Ciriminna,
Gemma Fabozzi,
Giuseppe Giuffrida,
Roberto Gualtieri,
Maria Giulia Minasi,
Simona Ochetti,
Valerio Pisaturo,
Cinzia Racca,
Laura Rienzi,
Elena Sarcina,
Catello Scarica,
Giovanna Tomasi,
Cristina Verlengia,
Rita Villeggia,
Federica Zullo,
Andrea Lenzi,
Francesco Botrè,
Lucia De Santis
Affiliations
Donatella Paoli
Laboratory of Seminology—Sperm Bank “Loredana Gandini”, Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza”, University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Francesco Pallotti
Laboratory of Seminology—Sperm Bank “Loredana Gandini”, Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza”, University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Anna Pia Dima
Laboratory of Seminology—Sperm Bank “Loredana Gandini”, Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza”, University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Elena Albani
Humanitas Fertility Center, Department of Gynecology, Division of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Humanitas Clinical and Research Hospital—IRCCS, 20089 Milan, Italy
Carlo Alviggi
Istituto per l’Endocrinologia e l’Oncologia sperimentale Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 80131 Naples, Italy
Franco Causio
Medical Centre San Luca, 70124 Bari, Italy
Carola Conca Dioguardi
Humanitas Fertility Center, Department of Gynecology, Division of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Humanitas Clinical and Research Hospital—IRCCS, 20089 Milan, Italy
Alessandro Conforti
Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
Rosanna Ciriminna
Centro AMBRA-Palermo, 90138 Palermo, Italy
Gemma Fabozzi
Clinica Valle Giulia, G.en.e.r.a. Centers for Reproductive Medicine, 00197 Rome, Italy
Giuseppe Giuffrida
CRA, Assisted Reproductive Center, 95128 Catania, Italy
Roberto Gualtieri
Department Biology, University of Naples Federico II, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
Maria Giulia Minasi
Center for Reproductive Medicine, European Hospital-Rome, 00149 Rome, Italy
Simona Ochetti
Department of Surgical Sciences, Gynecology and Obstetrics 1 Physiopathology of Reproduction and IVF Unit, S. Anna Hospital, University of Torino, 10124 Torino, Italy
Valerio Pisaturo
Reproductive Medicine Department, International Evangelical Hospital, 16122 Genoa, Italy
Cinzia Racca
Department of Surgical Sciences, Gynecology and Obstetrics 1 Physiopathology of Reproduction and IVF Unit, S. Anna Hospital, University of Torino, 10124 Torino, Italy
Laura Rienzi
Clinica Valle Giulia, G.en.e.r.a. Centers for Reproductive Medicine, 00197 Rome, Italy
Elena Sarcina
Medical Centre San Luca, 70124 Bari, Italy
Catello Scarica
Casa di cura Villa Salaria in partnership with Institut Marques, 00139 Rome, Italy
Giovanna Tomasi
CRA, Assisted Reproductive Center, 95128 Catania, Italy
Cristina Verlengia
UOSD Centro PMA Sant’ Anna—ASL Roma 1, 00198 Rome, Italy
Rita Villeggia
UOSD Centro PMA Sant’ Anna—ASL Roma 1, 00198 Rome, Italy
Federica Zullo
Department of Surgical Sciences, Gynecology and Obstetrics 1 Physiopathology of Reproduction and IVF Unit, S. Anna Hospital, University of Torino, 10124 Torino, Italy
Andrea Lenzi
Laboratory of Seminology—Sperm Bank “Loredana Gandini”, Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza”, University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Francesco Botrè
Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza”, University of Rome, 00153 Rome, Italy
Lucia De Santis
IVF Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute Deparment Ob/Gyn, Vita-Salute University, 20132 Milan, Italy
Background: folliculogenesis is a strictly regulated process that may be affected by endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) through sometimes not so clear molecular mechanisms. Methods: we conducted a multicentric observational study involving six fertility centers across Italy, prospectively recruiting 122 women attending a fertility treatment. Recruited women had age ≤42 years, and normal ovarian reserve. Blood and follicular fluid samples were taken for EDCs measurement using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and each woman completed an epidemiological questionnaire. Results: The main EDCs found were monobutyl phthalate (MBP) (median blood: 8.96 ng/mL, follicular fluid 6.43 ng/mL), monoethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) (median blood: 9.16 ng/mL, follicular fluid 7.68 ng/mL) and bisphenol A (BPA) (median blood: 1.89 ng/mL, follicular fluid 1.86 ng/mL). We found that serum MBP concentration was significantly associated with the considered area (p p = 0.004). Follicular MBP was associated with irregular cycles (p = 0.019). No association was detected between EDCs and eating habits and other clinical and epidemiological features. Conclusions: This study represents the first Italian biomonitoring of plastic EDCs in follicular fluid, laying the basis for future prospective evaluation on oocyte quality before assisted reproduction techniques (ART).
