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Cadmium and lead exposure may delay pregnancy

Category: Infertility Testing-Male

Couples who are having difficulty conceiving and have received unhealthy FSH test results may benefit from being checked for exposure to environmental toxins. New research suggests cadmium and lead levels may delay pregnancy.

Smokers tend to have much higher levels of cadmium in their blood. The National Institutes of Health study showed that this metal is more detrimental to a woman's fertility. Meanwhile, lead exposure can come from a number of different sources and tends to impair a man's fertility.

For the study, the researchers administered blood tests to both partners of more than 500 couples. Women with the highest levels of cadmium exposure were 22 percent less likely to become pregnant during the study period. Men with the most lead in their systems were 15 percent less likely to get their partner pregnant.

"Our results indicate that men and women planning to have children should minimize their exposure to lead and cadmium," said lead researcher Dr. Buck Louis. "They can reduce cadmium exposure by avoiding cigarettes or by quitting if they are current smokers, especially if they intend to become pregnant in the future."