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Reproductive Health Effects

Pesticide Exposure Impacts Women's Reproductive Health 

Pesticides are an often-invisible threat to reproductive health. From the food we eat to the air we breathe and the grass we sit on, these chemicals infiltrate daily life. And while all humans are vulnerable, those assigned female at birth bear a disproportionate burden of harm due to biological susceptibility and societal exposure patterns.  

Women’s reproductive health is susceptible to low-dose, chronic exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) found in common herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. Scientific studies increasingly link pesticide exposure to conditions like endometriosis, early menopause, fertility loss, and pregnancy complications. This page examines the growing body of evidence linking pesticide exposure to reproductive health disorders and explains why organic land management is a solution not only for the crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, but also for public health concerns. 

Women's Reproductive Disorders:  

Numerous gynecological and reproductive disorders are associated with pesticide exposure. This is often due to hormonal disruption or immune dysfunction.

  • Endometriosis: Women who are exposed to metabolites of the banned insecticide chlordane are over three times more likely to develop endometriosis, finds research published in the journal Environment International. The study is one of many that links persistent organic pollutants (POPs), still lingering in our environment and in our bodies, and chronic disease. The analysis finds that trans-nonachlor, a breakdown product of chlordane, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are positively associated with endometriosis. Compared to the control group, those with endometriosis have higher total levels of PCBs in their blood. The researchers also identify elevated levels of inflammatory cytokine biomarkers in women with severe endometriosis, suggesting that “certain persistent organic pollutants (POPs) promote pro-inflammatory metabolic conditions which may be involved in the development of severe endometriosis.” Exposure to pesticides contributes to the development of endometriosis by disrupting hormone function, weakening immune responses, and fueling chronic inflammation. 
  • Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI): Premature ovarian insufficiency, a condition in which ovarian function declines before age 40, is increasingly recognized as a serious reproductive health issue with long-term effects on fertility, hormonal balance, and overall health. A 2024 review in Frontiers in Public Health highlights the role of environmental exposures, particularly to pesticides, phthalates, dioxins, and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), in the development of POI. Disruption of hormonal signaling by these chemicals has been shown to alter oocyte maturation. The review also connects POI to uterine disorders and diminished success in fertility treatments like In vitro fertilization (IVF). 
  • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): Exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides contributes to PCOS and increases the risk of long-term reproductive dysfunction. A 2025 literature review in Reproductive Sciences finds that glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides may contribute to the development of PCOS by disrupting hormone production and damaging ovarian function. Glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA are widely detected in human samples, including urine, breast milk, and blood, with residues found in up to 80% of the U.S. population. The review reports that glyphosate exposure causes abnormal gonadotropin secretion (hormones that regulate the function of the ovaries), impaired aromatase activity, hyperandrogenism, and disrupted follicle development and ovulatory function, all features of PCOS.  

For more information about specific reproductive health diseases, see Beyond Pesticides' Pesticide-Induced Diseases Database.

Negative Birth Outcomes:

The consequences of pesticide exposures are not limited to adult reproductive health; they extend from the womb to menopause.  

  • Spontaneous Abortion and Preterm Birth: A study published in Environmental Research finds that exposure to glyphosate and its breakdown product AMPA during pregnancy shortens gestation length and increases the risk of preterm birth. In urine samples collected from 163 pregnant women, 94 percent contained detectable glyphosate or AMPA, and those with higher levels were significantly more likely to deliver prematurely. Among the 69 preterm births recorded, over half were spontaneous deliveries. With glyphosate detected in the vast majority of the U.S. population and mounting evidence of its endocrine and reproductive toxicity, researchers warn that continuous exposure poses a growing public health concern, particularly for pregnant women and developing fetuses 
  • Low Birth Weight: A study conducted by King George’s Medical University finds that exposure to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) during pregnancy is significantly associated with reduced fetal birth weight and adverse pregnancy outcomes. In a cohort of 221 pregnant women, blood samples reveal that premature newborns and their mothers have higher concentrations of pesticides like aldrin, dieldrin, and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH). Specifically, dieldrin and the DDT metabolite DDE are closely linked to low birth weight. Researchers conclude that the presence of pesticides in both maternal and umbilical cord blood contributes to reduced infant weight and emphasizes the urgent need for stronger protections during pregnancy. 
  • Infertility: A study published in Environment International finds that higher levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including pesticides, significantly reduce egg count and increase infertility risk in women. Using serum samples from pregnant women, researchers find that exposure to organochlorine pesticides was linked to lower egg reserves and longer time-to-pregnancy (TTP). The study detects at least 14 POP mixtures in all participants, and notes that these chemicals not only remain in the body but also transfer from mother to fetus. By decreasing immature egg count and accelerating reproductive dysfunction, pesticide exposure contributes directly to declining fertility and reproductive capacity. 

The following infographic, designed by Beyond Pesticides, explains the negative impact of pesticide exposure on reproductive health through the different stages of a woman's life: 

Mechanisms of Pesticide Harm—Endocrine Disruption and Oxidative Stress: 

Pesticides disrupt human biology through two major pathways: oxidative damage and hormonal interference. 

  • Endocrine Disruption: Endocrine disruption occurs when chemicals such as pesticides mimic natural hormones like estrogen or testosterone, block hormone receptors, or interfere with hormone synthesis, metabolism, and excretion, ultimately altering hormone levels in the body. A 2025 review published in Nature Reviews Endocrinology finds that pesticide-driven endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including PFAS and organochlorines, pose a cumulative, lifelong threat to women’s reproductive health by interfering with ovarian development, puberty timing, fertility, and hormonal balance across all life stages. EDCs are also linked to hormone-related cancers, making their existence a serious public health concern. 

For more information on endocrine disruption, view Beyond Pesticides’ Pesticides-Induced Diseases Database.  

Organic as a Solution

Organic land and food systems offer a clear path to protecting reproductive health by eliminating the use of endocrine-disrupting pesticides. These systems mitigate toxic exposures not just for consumers, but for the farmworkers, many of them women, who grow, harvest, and live near treated crops. Unlike chemical-intensive farming, organic agriculture eliminates the use of synthetic chemicals linked to birth defects, infertility, and hormonal disruption, among many other health effects. Organic farming removes this hazard entirely by cutting off the exposure at its source. The benefits also extend beyond the field. Organic food is more nutritious, with higher levels of antioxidants, offering healthier options for families and children. 

To learn more about how organic protects farmworkers, consumers, and future generations, visit the Health Benefits of Organic Agriculture page.

You can also get involved with the International Women’s Day Action Agenda and support ongoing campaigns through the Action of the Week.