If women in Singapore have more PFAS chemicals in their blood before getting pregnant, they might be a bit less likely to get pregnant each month — about 5 to 10% less with higher exposure.

What we've found so far is that higher levels of PFAS chemicals like PFOS and PFOA in women’s blood may be linked to lower chances of getting pregnant each month. The evidence we’ve reviewed leans toward this possibility, based on one analysis from Singapore [1]. Our current analysis shows that women with more PFAS in their blood before pregnancy might be about 5 to 10% less likely to conceive in any given month [1]. This finding comes from a single set of observations—52 supporting assertions, but all drawn from the same core data [1]. We did not find any studies that contradict this link, but we also don’t have evidence from multiple independent sources to confirm it yet. We are not saying this effect is certain, nor are we claiming that PFAS definitely affects fertility. What we can say is that the data we’ve reviewed so far points in one direction: higher PFAS exposure may be associated with a small decrease in monthly chances of pregnancy. But because the evidence is limited to one population and no opposing findings were reported, we can’t rule out other factors or generalize this to all women. Our analysis is ongoing. As more data becomes available, our understanding may change. Practical takeaway: If you're trying to get pregnant, reducing exposure to PFAS—found in some non-stick pans, waterproof clothing, and food packaging—might be worth considering, based on what we’ve seen so far. But we don’t yet have enough evidence to say how big an effect it really has.