4 minute read
Important points
- A new study of 322 mother-daughter pairs found that mothers who had more exposure to certain “forever chemicals” like PFAS were more likely to have daughters who later developed PMOS as teenagers.
- The new study only proves an association, not causation.
- PFAS are found in many household products, from nonstick cookware to stain-resistant fabrics and food packaging, and are difficult to avoid completely.
Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) affects up to 13% of women worldwide. However, although it is a relatively common symptom in women, the exact cause of PMOS is unknown. Now, new research suggests that there is a link between exposure to so-called permanent chemicals while in the womb and an increased risk of developing PMOS in the future.
In case the details are vague, PMOS is a disease that affects hormones. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it can cause symptoms such as irregular periods, excessive hair growth, acne, and infertility. Until last month, the disorder was called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The name has been changed to more accurately reflect this syndrome. “PCOS” suggests that people with this disease have abnormal ovarian cysts, even though many people with this disease did not exhibit this particular symptom.
Research published in journals environmental researchdoes not claim that permanent exposure to chemicals in the womb is a problem. of That’s why so many women develop PMOS. In fact, researchers have made clear in their study that more data is needed. But more questions arise about how chemicals forever affect our health.
Here’s what the study found and what gynecologists and toxicologists want women to keep in mind.
meet an expert: Dr. Lauren Streicher, Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Christine Gravesan obstetrician-gynecologist at Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Jamie Allanassociate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University.
What did the research find?
For the study, researchers followed 322 mother-daughter pairs enrolled in Project Viva, a long-term study in the Boston area. Researchers followed mothers and daughters from conception through the daughters’ teenage years. Researchers measured the levels of six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (also known as PFAS, or forever chemicals) in the mother’s blood during early pregnancy, and then tested her teenage daughter for PMOS and related symptoms.
Researchers found that mothers with higher levels of a permanent chemical called EtFOSAA in their blood were 2.7 times more likely to have a teenage daughter with PMOS. Mothers with high levels of PFNA, another permanent chemical, were 2.3 times more likely to have daughters with moderate to severe acne, which can be a sign of PMOS. However, researchers found no association between mothers exposed to all six PFASs together and the risk of having daughters with PMOS or related conditions.
Why can chemicals forever impact PMOS risk?
It is important to resolve this issue now. This study does not prove that PFAS exposure causes PMOS. I simply found the link. The study was also relatively small, making it difficult to draw many conclusions from the results. Still, doctors say there may be important details in the study worth noting.
“These permanent chemicals are known as endocrine disruptors,” he points out. Dr. Jamie Allanassociate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University. “It makes sense that exposure to these substances could contribute to the development of PMOS.”
Dr. Lauren Streicher, A clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine agrees. “This idea that if someone is exposed to something in the womb, it can become a hormone disruptor later in life is certainly a biologically plausible concept,” she says.
What’s the deal?
The problem is that these eternal chemicals are everywhere. PFAS are found in products such as nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, and food packaging, and can leach into food and enter the body. They also accumulate in the environment and in the body over time, making them difficult to avoid.
In fact, research shows that most people have traces of these permanent chemicals in their blood. This shows that these chemicals can be very difficult to avoid. “There’s only so much you can do other than live in a cave,” Dr. Streicher said.
“The only thing we can do now is limit our exposure as much as possible,” Alan says. “We can also develop and maintain other healthy habits in our lives. For example, diet, exercise, and lifestyle choices can improve PMOS symptoms.”
Again, more research needs to be done on this topic. “This is a small and limited study,” he says. Dr. Christine Gravesan obstetrician-gynecologist at Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies in Orlando, Florida. While it’s best to reduce exposure if possible, Dr. Graves also suggests giving yourself some grace if you can’t control all the factors.
Colin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, and his work has appeared in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives near the beach, and hopes to one day own a teacup pig and taco truck.
Carina Hsieh, MPH, is our next features editor. women’s health. She has over 10 years of experience working in media, covering everything from beauty, fashion, travel, lifestyle, pets to health.
She started her career as an intern in a fashion closet. cosmopolitan There she rose to become Senior Sex & Relationships Editor. While covering women’s health there, she discovered her passion for health services journalism and took time off to pursue a master’s degree in public health. After graduate school, she worked as a freelance writer and as The Daily Beast’s first beauty, health, and wellness reporter.
Karina is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Yale School of Public Health. She and her French bulldog, Bao Bao, split their time between Brooklyn and Connecticut. She enjoys innovative Pilates, (slow) running, and smelling luxury toiletries in the locker rooms of her boutique fitness classes.
