Microplastics are now everywhere on Earth—from the deepest oceans to the peak of Mount Everest—and new research shows they may even affect our most private moments.
A study has revealed that microplastics are “common” in human reproductive fluids. Researchers examined semen samples from 22 men and follicular fluid from the ovaries of 29 women. Shockingly, microplastics were present in 55% of the men and 69% of the women studied.
These particles included plastics linked to packaging, non-stick coatings, insulation, and synthetic fibers. Dr. Emilio Gomez-Sanchez, from the University of Murcia, said: “We weren’t entirely surprised to find microplastics in reproductive fluids, but we were struck by how common they were.”
Although the study did not directly measure fertility impacts, animal research suggests microplastics can trigger inflammation, DNA damage, and hormone disruption—raising concerns they may affect egg and sperm quality in humans.
Microplastics typically enter the body through food, inhalation, or skin contact, eventually traveling via the bloodstream to organs, including reproductive systems.
Experts caution that more research is needed, but the findings add to growing evidence that plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue—it may also pose risks to human fertility.
