title: Effects of perfluorinated chemicals on thyroid function, markers of ovarian reserve, and natural fertility.
abstract: Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) can act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, but there has been limited study of their effects on ovarian reserve or fecundability. 99 women, 30-44 years old, without infertility were followed until pregnancy. Initially, serum was evaluated for Antimullerian hormone (AMH), thyroid hormones: thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4), free thyroxine (fT4), and triiodothyronine (T3), and PFCs: perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS). Bivariate analyses assessed the relationship between thyroid hormones, AMH, and PFCs. Fecundability ratios (FR) were determined for each PFC using a discrete time-varying Cox model and a day-specific probability model. PFC levels were positively correlated with each other (r 0.24-0.90), but there was no correlation with TSH (r 0.02-0.15) or AMH (r -0.01 to -0.15). FR point estimates for each PFC were neither strong nor statistically significant. Although increased exposure to PFCs correlates with thyroid hormone levels, there is no significant association with fecundability or ovarian reserve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina, 4001 Old Campus Building, CB 7570, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. Electronic address: nmcraw@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Natalie M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.affiliation: Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
authors.forename: Suzanne E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Fenton
authors.affiliation: The National Exposure Research Laboratory, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strynar
authors.affiliation: National Center for Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
authors.forename: Erin P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Hines
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina, 3101 McGavran-Greenberg Hall, CB 7420, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Pritchard
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina, 4001 Old Campus Building, CB 7570, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. Electronic address: anne_steiner@med.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Anne Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Steiner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D002210:Caprylates / Q000097:blood*; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000097:blood*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D065851:Ovarian Reserve; D013451:Sulfonic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D013961:Thyroid Gland; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D002210:Caprylates; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; C471071:perfluorohexanesulfonic acid; C101816:perfluoro-n-nonanoic acid; C023036:perfluorooctanoic acid; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid
keywords: Endocrine disrupting chemicals; Fecundability; Ovarian reserve; Perfluorinated chemicals; Thyroid hormones