Williams PL

Exposure to phthalates is common and difficult to avoid. However, intake of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3PUFAs) may ameliorate negative effects on ovarian reserve by exposure to phthalates as both are involved in key proces…

BackgroundMetals may influence reproductive health, but few studies have investigated correlates of metal body burden among reproductive-aged women outside of pregnancy. Furthermore, while there is evidence of racial disparities in exposure…

Background/objectivesWomen are ubiquitously exposed to endocrine disruptors, including phthalates. Ovarian follicles undergoing folliculogenesis (indirectly measured by ovarian volume) produce anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and estradiol (E2)…

ObjectiveTo evaluate the associations of caffeinated, alcoholic, and sweetened beverage intakes with antral follicle count (AFC), a well-accepted biomarker of ovarian reserve.DesignObservational prospective cohort study.SettingFertility cen…

BackgroundPhthalates are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are widely present in consumer products. In the United States, Black women are more highly exposed to phthalates than other racial/ethnic groups, yet information on predictors of …

BackgroundFew epidemiologic studies have evaluated the impact of paternal environmental exposures, particularly as mixtures, on couples' pregnancy outcomes.ObjectiveWe investigated whether mixtures of paternal urinary bisphenol A (BPA), par…

Exposure to phthalates, endocrine-disrupting chemicals commonly used as plasticizers and in consumer products, has been associated with infertility and premature ovarian failure. Our objective was to investigate whether urinary phthalate me…

Accumulating evidence suggests that air pollution increases pregnancy loss; however, most previous studies have focused on case identification from medical records, which may underrepresent early pregnancy losses. Our objective was to inves…

BackgroundQuinolinic acid (QA), a neuroactive metabolite produced during tryptophan degradation, is implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurological disorders. Phthalates are structurally similar to QA, and exposure to phthalates has …

ObjectiveTo investigate the associations between dietary patterns and antral follicle count (AFC), a marker of ovarian reserve.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingFertility center at an academic hospital.Patient(s)A total of 363 women see…

PurposeTo enhance the understanding of the clinical significance of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in follicular fluid, we aimed to determine the variability of AMH concentrations in follicular fluid within and across IVF cycles and whether h…

BackgroundSubfertile women have higher risk of glucose intolerance during pregnancy. Studies suggest associations between several endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and pregnancy glucose levels. However, the association between benzophen…

A mediator is a factor that occurs after the exposure of interest, precedes the outcome of interest (i.e. between the exposure and the outcome) and is associated with both the exposure and the outcome of interest (i.e. is on the pathway bet…

BackgroundRandomized trials of supplementation with antioxidant mixtures during infertility treatment show no benefit on pregnancy or live birth rate. However, the roles of individual antioxidants are poorly understood. We examined the asso…

Study questionWhat is the association of female and male partner marijuana smoking with infertility treatment outcomes with ART?Summary answerWomen who were marijuana smokers at enrollment had a significantly higher adjusted probability of …

Research questionStudies in rodents have shown that paternal folate intake prior to conception is associated with pregnancy and offspring outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess whether those associations might apply to humans as well…

BackgroundWe have previously investigated whether urinary concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA), parabens, and phthalate metabolites were individually associated with reproductive outcomes among women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) t…

Study questionAre urinary levels of oxidative stress biomarkers associated with reproductive outcome success following fertility treatments?Summary answerLevels of oxidative stress in the middle tertile for women are associated with the hig…

ImportanceAnimal experiments suggest that ingestion of pesticide mixtures at environmentally relevant concentrations decreases the number of live-born offspring. Whether the same is true in humans is unknown.ObjectiveTo examine the associat…

BackgroundWhile overt thyroid disease is a well known risk factor for infertility, the potential consequences of mild thyroid dysfunction or thyroid autoimmunity remain unknown. Experimental studies suggest a considerable role for thyroid h…

ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship between demographic, lifestyle, and reproductive factors and the risk of ectopic pregnancy (EP).DesignProspective cohort.SettingUnited States.Patient(s)Nurses' Health Study II cohort comprising 41,440 p…

BackgroundSome dietary factors have been linked to outcomes of infertility treatment with assisted reproductive technology (ART), but the role of intake of meats and other protein-rich foods remains unclear.ObjectiveThe aim of this manuscri…

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether urinary concentrations of organophosphate flame retardant (PFR) metabolites are associated with pregnancy loss among women conceiving with assisted reproductive technology (ART).DesignProspective preconception c…

Study questionAre serum polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) concentrations, including omega-3 (ω3-PUFA) and omega-6 (ω6-PUFA), related to ART outcomes?Summary answerSerum levels of long-chain ω3-PUFA were positively associated with probabili…

BackgroundThe Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) Study is an ongoing prospective preconception cohort designed to investigate the impact of environmental, nutritional, and lifestyle factors among both women and men on fertility and…