Spotlight on ovarian reserve parameters

IN A WORLD where smog and tailpipes are already blamed for asthma and heart disease, scientists are now spotlighting another troubling possibility: Polluted air may be chipping away at women’s ability to have children.

A team of researchers in Poland studied 511 women who were visiting fertility clinics and compared their reproductive health with the levels of air pollution where they lived. They focused on small particles (PM2.5), which are mainly produced by cars, power plants and industrial emissions, as well as sulphur dioxide, which is often associated with burning fossil fuels.

Their findings – published as a scientific paper, in Nature.com, dated January 3, 2024 – suggest that breathing dirtier air may reduce the number of eggs a woman has left, a crucial measure known as her “ovarian reserve”.

To measure ovarian reserve, doctors typically look at two markers: AFC (antral follicle count), which pertains to how many egg-containing follicles can be seen on ultrasound, and AMH (Anti-Müllerian hormone), a hormone that reflects how many eggs remain.

Women exposed to higher levels of PM2.5 and sulphur dioxide tended to have lower AMH levels and fewer follicles visible on ultrasound. In short, polluted air may leave fewer eggs in the basket.

The effects were especially strong for women over the age of 35 and for women already diagnosed with infertility caused by female reproductive issues. Interestingly, other pollutants like ozone and carbon monoxide didn’t show clear effects on fertility in this study.

The researchers emphasise that the damage might come from oxidative stress, a kind of “rusting” that happens inside the body when harmful particles spark inflammation and cellular injury. Ovaries, it seems, don’t take kindly to being bathed in polluted air.

While this study doesn’t prove polluted air directly causes infertility, it adds to a growing pile of evidence connecting environmental health and reproductive health. And given that many cities regularly exceed recommended air-quality limits, doctors say the stakes are too high to ignore.

The study’s authors call for stronger environmental policies, more pollution monitoring and further research. They believe clean air isn’t just a breath of fresh air; it may also be a lifeline for future families.