WomensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex & Love
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Weight Loss
  • Women In Sport
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Video
WomensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex & Love
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Weight Loss
  • Women In Sport
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Video
This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack
Watch 0:23

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack

{headline}

{headline}

Having Regular Sex May Help Delay Menopause

Having Regular Sex May Help Delay Menopause

Amy Schumer Asks Fans For How To Cope With "Emotional" IVF Process

Amy Schumer Asks Fans For How To Cope With "Emotional" IVF Process

Chrissy Teigen Calls Out ‘Weirdo’ Who Said Taylor Swift Is Running Out Of Eggs

Chrissy Teigen Calls Out ‘Weirdo’ Who Said Taylor Swift Is Running Out Of Eggs

Angie Kent's Endometriosis Was So Severe She Would 'Bleed For Months On End'

Angie Kent's Endometriosis Was So Severe She Would 'Bleed For Months On End'

{headline}

{headline}

Influencer Katie Lolas On Why You Should Never Ask A Woman If She's Pregnant

Influencer Katie Lolas On Why You Should Never Ask A Woman If She's Pregnant

UK Company Launches Ground-Breaking Policy For Women With Menopause

UK Company Launches Ground-Breaking Policy For Women With Menopause

5 Women Share The Thing That Surprised Them Most About Menopause

5 Women Share The Thing That Surprised Them Most About Menopause

{headline}

{headline}

Experts Warn Fertility Apps May Be Sabotaging Your Chances Of Falling Pregnant

Experts Warn Fertility Apps May Be Sabotaging Your Chances Of Falling Pregnant

There’s A Certain Day Of The Month You’re More Likely To Reach An Orgasm

There’s A Certain Day Of The Month You’re More Likely To Reach An Orgasm

Everything You Need To Know About PCOS

Everything You Need To Know About PCOS

Lea Michele Said Her PCOS Diagnosis 'Explained Everything' After Her Sudden Weight Gain

Lea Michele Said Her PCOS Diagnosis 'Explained Everything' After Her Sudden Weight Gain

PSA: Your Period Tracker App May Be Sharing Your Personal Data With Facebook

PSA: Your Period Tracker App May Be Sharing Your Personal Data With Facebook

'I Ran My 49th Marathon At 27 Weeks Pregnant'

'I Ran My 49th Marathon At 27 Weeks Pregnant'

8 Of The Early Signs You Might Be Pregnant

8 Of The Early Signs You Might Be Pregnant

  1. Home
  2. Health

Your Yoga Mat Could Be Affecting Your Fertility

According to new research. - by Lauren W
  • 29 Aug 2017
Your Yoga Mat Could Be Affecting Your Fertility
Getty Images

A recent study by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has found a possible link between a common kind of flame retardant material and a lower IVF success rate in women.

The study looked at organophosphate flame retardants (PFRs) often found in yoga mats, upholstered furniture, and even baby products, which are easily transferred to the human body via dust particles.

Between 2005 and 2015, researchers analysed urine samples of 211 women undergoing IVF at the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Centre and found that 80% of them had traces of PFRs present.

RELATED: Fertility Apps Are ‘Generally Inaccurate’ Says Researchers

Further, women with high concentrations of these chemicals were 10% less likely to have a successful fertilisation and 31% reduced probability of implantation of the embryo. They also had 41% less chance of a clinical pregnancy and a 38% decreased chance of a live birth.

Study author Courtney Carignan, a research fellow in the Department of Environmental Health at Harvard Chan School, said that the findings suggest that exposure to PFRs could be one of the many risk factors for reproductive success.

“Couples undergoing IVF and trying to improve their chances of success by reducing their exposure to environmental chemicals may want to opt for products that are flame-retardant free,” added senior author Russ Hauser, Frederick Lee Hisaw professor of reproductive physiology and acting chair, Department of Environmental Health.

RELATED: 4 Ways You Can Naturally Boost Your Fertility

Although the researchers say that it adds to the body of evidence indicating a need to reduce the use of these flame retardants, there’s no need to freak out entirely. There are many factors that influence fertility so speak to a medical professional if you are struggling to fall pregnant. 

  • Health
  • Fertility

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Recommended to you

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack
Watch 0:23

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack

{headline}

{headline}

Having Regular Sex May Help Delay Menopause

Having Regular Sex May Help Delay Menopause

Amy Schumer Asks Fans For How To Cope With "Emotional" IVF Process

Amy Schumer Asks Fans For How To Cope With "Emotional" IVF Process

Chrissy Teigen Calls Out ‘Weirdo’ Who Said Taylor Swift Is Running Out Of Eggs

Chrissy Teigen Calls Out ‘Weirdo’ Who Said Taylor Swift Is Running Out Of Eggs

Angie Kent's Endometriosis Was So Severe She Would 'Bleed For Months On End'

Angie Kent's Endometriosis Was So Severe She Would 'Bleed For Months On End'

{headline}

{headline}

Influencer Katie Lolas On Why You Should Never Ask A Woman If She's Pregnant

Influencer Katie Lolas On Why You Should Never Ask A Woman If She's Pregnant

UK Company Launches Ground-Breaking Policy For Women With Menopause

UK Company Launches Ground-Breaking Policy For Women With Menopause

5 Women Share The Thing That Surprised Them Most About Menopause

5 Women Share The Thing That Surprised Them Most About Menopause

{headline}

{headline}

Experts Warn Fertility Apps May Be Sabotaging Your Chances Of Falling Pregnant

Experts Warn Fertility Apps May Be Sabotaging Your Chances Of Falling Pregnant

There’s A Certain Day Of The Month You’re More Likely To Reach An Orgasm

There’s A Certain Day Of The Month You’re More Likely To Reach An Orgasm

Everything You Need To Know About PCOS

Everything You Need To Know About PCOS

Lea Michele Said Her PCOS Diagnosis 'Explained Everything' After Her Sudden Weight Gain

Lea Michele Said Her PCOS Diagnosis 'Explained Everything' After Her Sudden Weight Gain

PSA: Your Period Tracker App May Be Sharing Your Personal Data With Facebook

PSA: Your Period Tracker App May Be Sharing Your Personal Data With Facebook

'I Ran My 49th Marathon At 27 Weeks Pregnant'

'I Ran My 49th Marathon At 27 Weeks Pregnant'

8 Of The Early Signs You Might Be Pregnant

8 Of The Early Signs You Might Be Pregnant

WomensHealth
  • Contact Us
  • About Paragon Media
  • Contact Paragon Media
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • Contact Us
  • About Paragon Media
  • Contact Paragon Media
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

Our Network

  • Paragon Media Pty Ltd
  • Men’s Health
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe Now-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe Now