title: Urinary Concentrations of Phthalate Metabolites and Bisphenol A and Associations with Follicular-Phase Length, Luteal-Phase Length, Fecundability, and Early Pregnancy Loss.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Certain phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) show reproductive effects in animal studies and potentially affect human ovulation, conception, and pregnancy loss.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated these chemicals in relation to follicular- and luteal-phase lengths, time to pregnancy, and early pregnancy loss (within 6 weeks of the last menstrual period) among women attempting pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women discontinuing contraception provided daily first-morning urine specimens and recorded days with vaginal bleeding for up to 6 months. Specimens had previously been analyzed for estrogen and progesterone metabolites and human chorionic gonadotropin. A total of 221 participants contributed 706 menstrual cycles. We measured 11 phthalate metabolites and BPA in pooled urine from three specimens spaced throughout each menstrual cycle. We analyzed associations between chemical concentrations and outcomes using linear mixed models for follicular- and luteal-phase lengths, discrete-time fecundability models for time to pregnancy, and logistic regression for early pregnancy loss.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher concentrations of monocarboxyoctyl phthalate (MCOP) were associated with shorter luteal phase [2nd tertile vs. 1st tertile: -0.5 days (95% CI: -0.9, -0.1), 3rd vs. 1st: -0.4 days (95% CI: -0.8, 0.01), p = 0.04]. BPA was also associated with shorter luteal phase [2nd vs. 1st: -0.8 days (95% CI: -1.2, -0.4), 3rd vs. 1st: -0.4 days (95% CI: -0.8, 0.02), p = 0.001].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BPA and MCOP (or its precursors) were associated with shorter luteal phase. Menstrual cycle-specific estimates of urinary BPA and phthalate metabolites were not associated with detrimental alterations in follicular-phase length, time to pregnancy, or early pregnancy loss, and in fact, DEHP [di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate] metabolites {MEOHP [mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate] and ΣDEHP} were associated with reduced early loss. These findings should be confirmed in future human studies.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Anne Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jukic
authors.forename: Antonia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Calafat
authors.forename: D Robert
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: McConnaughey
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Longnecker
authors.forename: Jane A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hoppin
authors.forename: Clarice R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Weinberg
authors.forename: Allen J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wilcox
authors.forename: Donna D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Baird
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000652:urine*; D000328:Adult; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000633:toxicity / Q000652:urine*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000187:drug effects*; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity / Q000652:urine*; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000633:toxicity / Q000652:urine*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010636:Phenols; D010795:Phthalic Acids; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds