Microplastics have now infiltrated nearly every corner of the planet—from the deepest parts of the Mariana Trench to the summit of Mount Everest.
Disturbingly, research has revealed that these tiny particles are also present in our most intimate biological systems. Scientists have found that microplastics are commonly found in the reproductive fluids of both men and women.
They warned that this contamination could negatively affect the quality of sperm and eggs, potentially impacting fertility. The study involved analyzing seminal fluid from 22 men and follicular fluid from the ovaries of 29 women.
Analysis revealed that more than half of the samples contained various common types of microplastics.
These included particles linked to materials such as wool, polystyrene, plastic containers, non-stick coatings, insulation, and cushioning. Lead researcher Dr. Emilio Gomez-Sanchez from the University of Murcia explained, “Previous research had already shown that microplastics can be found in several human organs.”
“So, while we weren’t entirely surprised to detect microplastics in human reproductive fluids, we were alarmed by how widespread they were—present in 69% of the women and 55% of the men we studied.”
Microplastics—defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters—are already known to pose risks to both the environment and public health.
Although the study did not directly assess the effects of microplastics on fertility, the researchers emphasized the urgent need to explore their potential impact on reproductive health.
“What we’ve seen in animal studies is that microplastics can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, DNA damage, premature cell aging, and hormonal disruptions where they accumulate,” said Dr. Gomez-Sanchez. “It’s possible that they could affect the quality of human eggs or sperm, but we don’t yet have enough evidence to say for certain.”
Scientists believe that microplastics most commonly enter the human body through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact.
Once inside, these particles can enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body—including to the reproductive organs.
Researchers plan to conduct further studies to explore whether there is a link between microplastics and the quality of human sperm and eggs.
These findings were shared at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) and published in the journal Human Reproduction.
Commenting on the study, Dr. Carlos Calhaz-Jorge, Immediate Past Chair of ESHRE, stated: “Environmental influences on reproduction are real, though difficult to quantify objectively. The researchers detected microplastics in over two-thirds of the follicular fluid samples and more than half of the semen samples they analyzed.”
He added that while the implications of these findings remain unclear, they further support the argument for reducing widespread plastic use in everyday life.
Previous studies have already detected microplastics in human breast milk, blood, and even brain tissue. Other research has found high levels of microplastics in everyday items such as chopping boards, tea bags, and baby bottles.
However, some experts urge caution when interpreting the new results.
Dr. Stephanie Wright, Associate Professor in Environmental Toxicology at Imperial College London, noted: “Without data on the size of the microplastic particles found, it’s difficult to fully understand the significance of the findings. There’s also a high risk of sample contamination with microplastics during collection, lab processing, and analysis.”
“It’s not surprising that microplastics were detected—they’re everywhere, even in laboratory environments,” experts noted. “However, the data doesn’t yet prove that these particles are present due to actual human exposure, rather than contamination during the research process. At this stage, the findings must be interpreted with caution.”
Professor Fay Couceiro, an environmental pollution expert and head of the Microplastics Research Group at the University of Portsmouth, commented, “This is a very interesting and timely study, especially in light of the global decline in fertility rates.”
She added, “As the researchers themselves pointed out, the presence of microplastics in the body is no longer surprising—we’ve already detected them in many other areas. But detecting their presence is not the same as proving they cause harm. While this study found microplastics in reproductive fluids, we still don’t understand what impact, if any, they may have.”
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